Synthesis and scintillation properties of nano Gd2O3(Eu) scintillator for high resolution X-ray imaging applications

Gd2O3:Eu scintillators with nano-crystalline structures were successfully synthesized through a precipitation method and subsequent calcination treatment as a converter for X-ray imaging detectors. In this work, a simple precipitation process was carried out using diethanolamine (DEA) as a precipitant to prepare nano-crystalline Eu-doped Gd2O3 powders. Scintillation properties such as luminescent spectra, light intensity and decay time were measured by varying the calcination temperature in heat-treatment of the synthesized powder. The sample prepared at 1200 degrees C calcination temperature showed the highest light intensity. And the scintillator emitted a strong red light at near 611 nm under photo-and X-ray luminescence for its potential X-ray imaging detector applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.