Ce3+, Pr3+ Co-Doped Lu3Al5O12 Single Crystals and Ceramics: A Comparative Study

Ce3+, Pr3+ co-doped Lu3Al5O12 (Ce, Pr:LuAG) single crystals and ceramics were prepared using the optical floating zone (OFZ) and reactive vacuum sintering methods, respectively. The microstructure, photo- (lambda(ex) = 450 nm), and radio-luminescence (under X-ray excitation) performance, as well as scintillation light yield (LY, under gamma-ray, Cs-137 source) of both materials, were investigated and compared. Ce, Pr:LuAG ceramics had an in-line transmittance of approximately 20% in the visible light range, while the analogous crystals were more transparent (similar to 65%). The X-ray excited luminescent (XEL) spectra showed the characteristic Ce (3+) and Pr3+ emissions located at 310 nm, 380 nm, and 510 nm. The highest LY of the Ce, Pr:LuAG ceramics reached 34,112 pho/MeV at 2 mu s time gate, which is higher than that of a single crystal. The ratio of LY values (LY2/LY0.75) between shaping times of 0.75 mu s and 2 mu s indicated a faster scintillation decay of ceramics regarding single crystals. It was ascribed to the lower effective concentration of luminescent activators in single crystals because of the coefficient segregation effect.

Automated summary

Ce3+, Pr3+ co-doped Lu3Al5O12 (Ce, Pr:LuAG) single crystals and ceramics were prepared using different methods, and their microstructure, luminescence performance, and scintillation light yield were compared. The results showed that the ceramics had a faster scintillation decay and higher scintillation light yield.