Processing and scintillation properties of Eu3+ doped Lu2O3 transparent ceramics

A novel processing was developed to fabricate transparent europium (Eu3+) ion doped lutetia (Lu2O3) scintillation ceramics. The microstructural evolution of Eu3+:Lu2O3 phosphor powder under different calcining temperatures was investigated by FTIR and TEM. Highly transparent polycrystalline Lu2O3 ceramics were densified from as-prepared powder by pressureless sintering under 1850 °C for 6 h in flowing H2 atmosphere. Optical linear transmittances in the visible wavelength region for Lu2O3 ceramic could reach as high as above 80%. Integration of the X-ray excited emission spectra showed that Lu2O3:5at%Eu3+ ceramic scintillator provided about 10 times overall emission intensity with respect to BGO single crystal at room temperature.