Eu-doped 6LiF–SrF2 eutectic scintillators for neutron detection

Eu2+ 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% activated LiF–SrF2 eutectic scintillators were prepared by the Bridgman method using 6Li enriched (95%) raw material. The α-ray-induced radio luminescence spectra showed intense emission peak at 430 nm due to an emission from Eu2+ 5d–4f transition in the Eu:SrF2 layers. When excited by 252Cf neutrons, all the samples exhibited almost the same light yields of 5000–7000 ph/n with a typical decay times of several hundreds ns.

► Scintillation responses of LiF–SrF2 activated with Eu2+ are first reported. ► Especially, neutron induced decay time profiles are first described in such eutectic scintillator materials. ► The optimum Eu concentration results 0.1%.