title: Composition optimization of scintillating rare-earth nanocrystals in oxide glass-ceramics for radiation spectroscopy.
abstract: Glass-ceramic nanocomposites comprising GdBr₃/CeBr₃ loaded sodium-aluminosilicate glasses in which scintillating crystallites are precipitated in situ from a host glass matrix were studied. This materials system shows promise as an alternative to single-crystal scintillators, with potential to be fabricated into a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and compositions. Batch compositions containing 15-18 mol. % GdBr₃ and 3-4 mol. % CeBr₃ were prepared and analyzed for photoluminescent light yield. Light yield peaked with rare-earth content of 15 mol. % GdBr₃ and 4 mol. % CeBr₃. Preliminary ceramization studies on this composition found that the precipitated phase more closely matched a Gd₂O₃-CeO₂ mixture rather than the GdBr₃(Ce) that was targeted.
authors.forename: M Brooke
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barta
authors.forename: Jason H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nadler
authors.forename: Zhitao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Brent K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosson
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Kenneth H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Sandhage
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kahn