Crystal growth and scintillation properties of (NaxCa1−2xLux−yNdy)F2 single crystals

NaxCa1−2xLux−yNdyF2 single crystals were grown from the melt using the precise atmosphere control type Micro-Pulling-Down (μ-PD) method to investigate their potential as a vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) scintillators. The grown crystals were single-phase materials with fluorite-type structure (Fm-3m, Z = 4) as confirmed by XRD. The crystals demonstrated 80–90% transmittance above 200 nm wavelength and Nd3+ 5d–4f luminescence (when exited by X-ray) observed around 185 nm. The radioluminescence measurements under 5.5 MeV α-ray excitation (241Am) demonstrated the light yield of 48 [Ph/5.5 MeV-α] and the decay time of 6.4–7.7 ns.

► NaxCa1−2xLux−yNdyF2 single crystals were grown from the melt using μ-PD method.
► Their potential as a VUV scintillators were examined.
► Nd3+ 5d–4f luminescence (when exited by X-ray) was observed for all samples.
► They demonstrated peak wavelength shift by changing the ratio of elements.