Luminescence study on Eu or Tb doped lanthanum–gadolinium pyrosilicate crystal

• Optical properties of (RE0.01, Gd0.90, La0.09)2Si2O7, RE = Eu or Tb, were investigated.
• These crystals were grown by the floating zone method.
• Gd3+-to-Tb3+ or –Eu3+ energy transfer processes were found.
• Using these scintillators, alpha-ray imaging was possible with a CMOS camera.

(Eu0.01, Gd0.90, La0.09)2Si2O7 (Eu:La–GPS) and (Tb0.01, Gd0.90, La0.09)2Si2O7 (Tb:La–GPS) crystals were grown by the floating zone method, and their optical and scintillation properties were investigated. Gd3+-to-Tb3+ or –Eu3+ energy transfer processes were found, and photo-luminescence and radio-luminescence emission spectra showed 5D0–7Fi (i = 1–4) Eu3+ transitions in Eu:La–GPS, and 5D3–7Fi (i = 3–6) and 5D4–7Fi (i = 3–6) transitions in Tb:La–GPS. Using these scintillators, alpha-ray imaging was possible with a CMOS camera. These materials can be used for X-ray detection as well.