Cerium Chloride−methanol Adduct Crystals, CeCl₃(CH₃OH)₄: Preparation, Crystallography, And Scintillation Properties

Abstract

A new methanol adduct of cerium trichloride of composition CeCl3(CH3OH)4 was crystallized from a solution growth in methanol. Large single crystals (more than several cubic centimeters) have been grown in controlled temperature baths. The molecular adduct of composition Ce2Cl6(CH3OH)8 is determined from X-ray crystal structure analysis, and this molecule undoubtedly persists in solution as well. Motivations for studying these compounds are their promising unique scintillation properties for radiation detection applications and the model structural systems they provide for the realization of new low-dimensional quantum magnets. This material apparently represents the first example of a metal-organic scintillator that is applicable to X-ray, γ-ray, and neutron detection.

New cerium-based metal–organic scintillators for radiation detection

“…In fact, a large CeCl 3 (CH 3 OH) 4 crystal was previously grown in a short ($ 24-36 h) period of time using a pre-grown seed crystal in a Holden-type crystallizer [1]. The pertinent details of this solution growth process have been described previously [1,6].…”

“…In fact, a large CeCl 3 (CH 3 OH) 4 crystal was previously grown in a short ($ 24-36 h) period of time using a pre-grown seed crystal in a Holden-type crystallizer [1]. The pertinent details of this solution growth process have been described previously [1,6]. In the present case of an exploratory search for the purpose of identifying new scintillator compounds, the crystals are usually grown in 250 ml Pyrex beakers using spontaneous nucleation and solvent evaporation.…”

“…The solution growth procedures described in detail in Refs. [1,6] were utilized resulting in the growth of single crystals with the composition [(CeCl 3 ) 7 (1-PropOH) 16 2 ]. The relatively complex crystal structure of this compound is illustrated in Fig.…”

“…[1,6]. The crystal structure of the resulting material was refined using X-ray diffraction techniques as noted above and as described in detail in Refs.…”

“…The initial discovery of the cerium-based metal-organic coordination complex CeCl 3 (CH 3 OH) 4 [1,2] and its accompanying identification as a single crystal scintillator for the detection of both gamma rays and fast neutrons [1,3], has led to the subsequent identification of a number of other Ce 3 þ -activated metal-organic scintillators [4]-including scintillating materials that are produced by reactions between mixed rare-earth halides and methanol [5] (other new nonscintillating rare-earth metal-organic compounds have been discovered as well [6]). The prior results, combined with the development of the new rare-earth metal-organic scintillators described here, show that compounds of this type, in fact, represent a whole new class of scintillating materials with a relatively large number of members [6,7].…”