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Characterizations of a Hot‐Pressed Polycrystalline Spinel:Ce Scintillator
Author(s) -
Chen ChingFong,
Doty F. P.,
Houk Ronald J. T.,
Loutfy Raouf O.,
Volz Heather M.,
Yang Pin
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2010.03721.x
Subject(s) - materials science , crystallite , spinel , microstructure , scintillator , sintering , ceramic , transparent ceramics , dopant , lithium fluoride , analytical chemistry (journal) , scanning electron microscope , mineralogy , transmission electron microscopy , doping , metallurgy , composite material , optoelectronics , optics , nanotechnology , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , physics , chromatography , detector
Here, we report a new polycrystalline ceramic scintillator for possible use in γ‐ray detection and medical imaging applications. The goal was to develop a cerium‐doped spinel (MgAl 2 O 4 :Ce), which can be processed utilizing ceramic forming techniques. High‐purity MgAl 2 O 4 powders were used as the starting materials. Lithium fluoride (LiF) was used as a sintering aid and CeO 2 powder was used as the dopant. The mixed and dried powders were hot pressed in a vacuum environment to achieve high‐density MgAl 2 O 4 :Ce. The hot‐pressed sample shows a transparent polycrystalline appearance. In‐line transmission was measured to determine the transparency of the structure. Microstructures were characterized using X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Fluorescence absorption and emission peaks were also measured in addition to the decay time measurement.