Tungsten gallium-phosphate glasses as promising intrinsic scintillators

Tungsten gallium-phosphate glasses with composition NaPO3-20Ga(2)O(3)-xNa(2)WO(4) (x = 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10% mol) were synthesized by the melt-quenching technique with high chemical stability and excellent optical properties, and evaluated as potential intrinsic glass scintillators. Fourier-transform infrared measurements showed a decrease in the amount of OH- groups for increasing Na2WO4 contents, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the presence of sole W6+ species. Optical transmission measurements showed a high level of transmittance (similar to 90%) over a broad spectral range (400 to 2500 nm). Luminescence was found to correspond to a broad emission characteristic of the WO42- complex that can be excited by ultraviolet and X-rays with average lifetimes ranging from 32 to 20 mu s. At cryogenic temperatures, the NaPGaW glasses showed a significant increase in the luminescence emission.

Automated summary

NaPO3-20Ga(2)O(3)-xNa(2)WO(4) (x = 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10% mol) tungsten gallium-phosphate glasses were synthesized and evaluated as potential intrinsic glass scintillators due to their high chemical stability and excellent optical properties. Increasing Na2WO4 content led to a decrease in OH- groups and the presence of sole W6+ species. The glasses exhibited high transmittance (around 90%) over a wide spectral range (400 to 2500 nm) and luminescence emission characteristic of the WO42- complex with average lifetimes ranging from 32 to 20 μs. Cryogenic temperatures resulted in a significant increase in luminescence emission for the NaPGaW glasses.