Effect of Gd substitution on structure and spectroscopic properties of (Lu,Gd)2O3:Eu ceramic scintillator

Abstract In this paper, (Lu 1-x Gd x ) 2 O 3 :Eu (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) ceramics were consolidated by the solid-state reaction method combined with vacuum sintering without sintering aids. We investigated the effect of the varying contents of Gd 2 O 3 on the structure and spectroscopic properties of (Lu 1-x Gd x ) 2 O 3 :Eu ceramics. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that proper amount of Gd 2 O 3 can incorporate well with Lu 2 O 3 and form Lu 2 O 3 -Gd 2 O 3 solid solution. However, excessive Gd 3+ -doping in Lu 2 O 3 will lead to the cubic phase transforming into monoclinic even hexagonal phase. The Gd 3+ substitution no more than 50% of Lu 2 O 3 enhances the radioluminescence, and reduces the fluorescence lifetime. Transmittance, photoluminescence, and radiation damage of the (Lu 1-x Gd x ) 2 O 3 :Eu scintillation ceramics were also studied.