Crystal growth and thermal neutron scintillation response of Ce doped K6LiYF5

K6Li(Y1−xCex)F5 (x = 0.003, 0.02) single crystals were grown from the melt using the precise atmosphere control type Micro-Pulling-Down (μ-PD) method to examine their potential as a new thermal neutron scintillators. The grown crystals were single-phase materials as confirmed by XRD. The crystals demonstrated 40–60% transmittance above 320 nm and Ce3+ 5d–4f luminescence observed around 340 nm when exited by α-ray. The radio luminescence measurements under thermal neutron excitation (252Cf) demonstrated the light yield of 890 (Ph/neutron) and the decay time excited by α-ray exhibited 20 and 259 ns.

Research highlights
► K6Li(Y1−xCex)F5 (x = 0.003, 0.02) single crystals were grown by μ-PD method.
► Ce3+ 5d-4f luminescence were observed around 340 nm.
► The light yield was 890 [Ph/neutron] under thermal neutron excitation (252Cf).