Photoluminescence, scintillation, and dosimetric properties of undoped and Tb-doped Ba₃Gd(PO₄)₃ single crystals

Abstract

Undoped and Tb-doped Ba3Gd(PO4)3 single crystals were synthesized by the floating zone method. Photoluminescence (PL), scintillation, and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) properties of the obtained single crystals were evaluated. The highest PL quantum yield value was obtained from the 5% Tb-doped single crystal. In X-ray-induced scintillation and TSL spectra, the undoped sample represented an emission peak originating from the 4f–4f transition of Gd3+ at 310 nm. The Tb-doped samples represented emission peaks originating from the 4f–4f transitions of Tb3+ and Gd3+ in the range of 310–620 nm. In TSL dose response functions, the 1% Tb-doped sample showed the highest TSL intensity, and the lower detection limit was 0.01 mGy.