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The Bright X‐Ray Stimulated Luminescence of HfO 2 Nanocrystals Activated by Ti Ions
Author(s) -
Villa Irene,
Moretti Federico,
Fasoli Mauro,
Rossi Antonella,
Hattendorf Bodo,
Dujardin Christophe,
Niederberger Markus,
Vedda Anna,
Lauria Alessandro
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced optical materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 91
ISSN - 2195-1071
DOI - 10.1002/adom.201901348
Subject(s) - radioluminescence , materials science , luminescence , scintillator , nanoparticle , calcination , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , nanocrystal , titanium , irradiation , ion , photoluminescence , nanotechnology , analytical chemistry (journal) , optoelectronics , chemical engineering , optics , chemistry , engineering , organic chemistry , chromatography , detector , nuclear physics , metallurgy , catalysis , biochemistry , physics
The recent trends in scintillator technologies stimulate research efforts toward the development of novel materials morphologies, such as nanoparticles, able to efficiently convert ionizing radiations into light. For example, scintillating nanoparticles attract great interest in medical oncological therapies. In this work, the structural and morphological properties of HfO 2 :Ti nanoparticles with Ti concentrations from 0.03 to 10 mol% and subjected to calcination up to 1000 °C are thoroughly characterized; moreover, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the incorporation of Ti in both Ti (III) and Ti (IV) chemical states in as prepared samples, while the exclusive presence of Ti(IV) is unambiguously identified in calcined nanoparticles. The optical emission under X‐ray excitation evidences an intense Ti (IV)‐related luminescence at 2.5 eV in high temperature calcined samples with a few microseconds scintillation lifetime, and efficiency comparable to that of Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 reference scintillator. Finally, the competitive role of defects in charge carriers capture is demonstrated by the monotonic increase of the 2.5 eV band during prolonged X‐ray irradiation, more evident for nanoparticles with titanium concentration below 1 mol%. HfO 2 :Ti may also find application in X‐ray triggered oncological therapies by using the Ti (IV)‐related bright radioluminescence to excite photosensitizer molecules for singlet oxygen generation.