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Investigation of Structure and Performance of Cerium-Doped Lanthanum Fluoride Nanocrystals for Scintillators

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Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of cerium-doped lanthanum fluoride (La(1−x)CexF3) nanocrystals have been carried out. The surfaces of La(1−x)CexF3 nanocrystals were modified with oleic acid using the co-precipitation technique, and then doped with cerium with various mole fractions (x) = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25. The nanocrystals produced were characterized for their crystal structure using x-ray diffraction (XRD), their morphology by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), their functional group identification using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy, and their photoluminescence behavior using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Detailed investigations revealed that, based on the XRD data and TEM images, La(1−x)CexF3 exhibits trigonal-structured nanocrystals with the symmetry space group P-3c1. Among the samples, La0.75Ce0.25F3 exhibited the sharpest PL peak. The PL spectra for La0.75Ce0.25F3 nanocrystals excited at 370 nm and showed an intense emission peak at 495 nm with a lifetime τ = 1.523 × 10−10 s. This emission was assigned to the 5d → 4f (2F5/2 and 2F7/2) transitions of Ce3+ energy levels, indicating a luminescence center mechanism. These results indicate that the synthesized La0.75Ce0.25F3 is a promising phosphor material for detector scintillators.

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Acknowledgments

This work was performed under the financial support from the ORTN-BRIN, Republic of Indonesia based on decree of the Head of the Nuclear Energy Research Organization, Number: B-125/III/TN/3/2022, March 22, 2022. The authors thank Dr. Rohadi Awaludin as the head of ORTN and Dr. Abu Khalid Rivai as the head of PRTABN for administrative permission and assistance in facilitating research activities. The authors also thank Jos Budi Sulistyo, Ph.D. to harmonize English in this paper.

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  1. National Research and Innovation Agency, KST Habibie, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Banten, Indonesia

    E. Sukirman,  Wahyudianingsih, A. Sudjatno,  Muflikhah, A. Karo Karo, I. Gunawan,  Syahfandi, Y. Purwamargapratala & A. Dimyati

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Sukirman, E., Wahyudianingsih, Sudjatno, A. et al. Investigation of Structure and Performance of Cerium-Doped Lanthanum Fluoride Nanocrystals for Scintillators. J. Electron. Mater. 53, 2921–2928 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-024-11053-5

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