Crystal growth and luminescence properties of Pr-doped LuLiF4 single crystal

0.1, 1, and 3% Pr (with respect to Lu) doped LuLiF4 (Pr:LuLiF4) single crystals were grown by the micro-pulling-down (μ-PD) method. Transparency of the grown crystals was higher than 70% in the visible wavelength region with some absorption bands due to Pr3+ 4f-4f transitions. Intense absorption bands related with the Pr3+ 4f-5d transitions were observed at 190 and 215 nm. In radioluminescence spectra, Pr3+ 5d-4f emissions were observed at 220, 240, 340, and 405 nm. In the pulse height spectra recorded under 137Cs γ-ray excitation, the Pr 3% doped sample showed the highest light yield of 2050 photons/MeV and the scintillation decay time of it exhibited 23 and 72 ns also excited by 137Cs γ-ray.

► 0.1, 1, and 3% Pr-doped LuLiF4 single crystals were grown by the μ-PD method.
► Pr3+ 5d-4f emission peaks appeared at 220, 240, 340, and 405 nm
► The Pr 3%:LuLiF4 crystal showed the highest light yield of 2050 photons/MeV.