Scintillation properties of phosphate-borate-fluoride glass doped with Tb3+/Pr3+

Scintillation glass doped with Tb3+ and Pr3+ ions with different concentrations were prepared by the melt-quenching method. Optical, photoluminescence and decay kinetic characteristics of the pulse cathodoluminescence (PCL) were investigated. It was shown that the absorption coefficient of the induced absorption in the visible range of the spectrum decreases significantly with the increase of the Pr2O3 content starting from 0.2 to 1 wt%. There was the difference in the luminescence spectra of the glass at a selective and non-selective type of excitation. The “green” emission (λem= 542 nm, 5D4→7F5 radiative transition of Tb3+ ions) was excited an electron beam. The “red” emission (λem= 600 nm, 3P0→3H6 radiative transition of Pr3+ ion) was observed under selective excitation action (λexc= 450 nm). It was demonstrated that decreasing of intensity the main bands of Tb3+ ions at 487, 544, 622 nm connected with increases of concentration Pr3+ ions. The luminescence decay time of terbium ions at 487, 544, 622 nm emission bands depend on Pr3+ concentration. The tendency of reducing the luminescence decay time in the main luminescence bands of Tb3+ ions at increasing the Pr3+ concentration was presented. The results showed that Tb3+/ Pr3+ co-doped phosphate-borate-fluoride glasses are promising non-crystalline scintillation materials.