Growth and luminescence properties of Eu-doped HfO2/α-Al2O3 eutectic scintillator

HfO2/α-Al2O3 eutectics were grown by the micro-pulling down (μ-PD) method at the composition of 63.2 mol.% α-Al2O3, 35.512 mol.% HfO2, 0.92 mol.% Eu2O3 and 0.368 mol.% Y2O3. Rod phases with around 3–4 μm diameter were observed on the transverse cross-section. The phase-separated scintillator fibers (PSSFs) structure with fibers of around 3–4 μm diameter and 10–20 μm length was observed. The electron back scattering patterns indicated crystal orientation of [101] for monoclinic HfO2 rod phase and [0001] for α-Al2O3 matrix in the transverse cross-section. Eu3+ 4f-4f emission was observed at 550–750 nm.

Graphical AbstractHigh-resolution X-ray imaging can be expected using the eutectic structureFigure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide