Luminescence properties of Gd3+-doped borosilicate scintillating glass

Gd3+-doped borosilicate glasses are prepared in different melting atmosphere. Absorption spectra, decay time, luminescence spectra under UV and X-ray excitation are investigated. With melting atmosphere changing from air to CO, the luminescence intensities of Gd3+ at 313 nm under the excitation of UV and X-ray are both enhanced. This mainly results from the reduction of Gd3+, which is validated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The optimal Gd2O3 content for the glasses prepared under CO atmosphere is 7.5 mol%, whose integral scintillation efficiency is 20% compared with Bi4Ge3O12.