Effects of Zr^(4+) codoping on the Lu_(0.8)Sc_(0.2)BO_3:Ce scintillation materials

Abstract

Both Zr-codoped Lu_(0.8)Sc_(0.2)BO_3:Ce polycrystalline powders and single crystals were obtained by solid-state reaction and Czochralski method, respectively. The effects of Zr codoping on the optical absorption, Ce^(3+)/Ce^(4+) ratio, scintillation efficiency, decay time and point defect in Lu_(0.8)Sc_(0.2)BO_3:Ce materials were examined systematically. Our results show that there is no positive contribution of Zr^(4+) ion codoping to the scintillation efficiency. And the reasons for the deterioration of scintillation efficiency by codoping Zr^(4+) were revealed