Intense broadband radioluminescence from an Mn2+-doped aluminoborate glass scintillator

Alternative scintillating materials are of current interest for radiation detection in diverse high-energy applications, e.g., in X-ray imaging and high-energy physics. However, single crystals as the main material for scintillators hinder the preparation with large size, low cost, and diverse shape. Here, we offer an easy preparation procedure of Mn2+-activated aluminoborate glasses under air atmosphere by the traditional melt-quenching approach. These glass specimens exhibit broadband photoluminescence and radioluminescence under ultra-violet light and X-ray excitation, respectively. Moreover, the reduction of Mn3+ to Mn2+ leads to improved scintillating performance, favoring the preparation of Mn2+-doped scintillating glasses under air atmosphere. The energy transfer from Gd3+ to Mn2+ contributes to both photoluminescence and radioluminescence and the energy transfer efficiency reaches 96.4%. More notably, the integrated X-ray excited luminescence intensity from the optimal specimen is 42.2% that of the commercial Bi4Ge3O12 single crystal scintillator, offering great potential in X-ray detection and large area imaging.

Automated summary

This study presents an easy preparation method for Mn2+-doped aluminoborate glasses under air atmosphere, exhibiting broadband photoluminescence and radioluminescence. The energy transfer from Gd3+ to Mn2+ contributes to enhanced scintillating performance, with the optimal specimen achieving an X-ray excited luminescence intensity of 42.2% compared to a commercial single crystal scintillator.