Crystal growth of LiF/LiYF4 eutectic crystals and their luminescent properties

Undoped and 0.5 mol% Ce-doped LiF–LiYF4 eutectic crystals were grown by the micro-pulling-down method at different growth rates. The SEM images of all the eutectic crystals showed LiF with rod-like structure in the LiYF4 matrix. The diameter of the rod phase systematically decreased with the increase of the growth rate. The radioluminescence spectra of cerium doped crystal under alpha-ray excitation showed emission peak at 325 nm related to Ce3+ 5d-4f transition. The white part in the cathodoluminescence image is considered to be due to Ce3+ ion in LiYF4 phase, according to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image in the same region.