Fabrication of Low-Cost Large-Volume Ceramic A2HfX6 (A= Cs or Tl, X = Cl, Br, or I) Scintillators for Gamma Ray Detection

Scintillator crystals play an important role in the radiation detection field. Widespread use of scintillators as gamma-ray detectors is largely generated by their extensive availability and tunable properties, such high light output, high stopping power (Zeff), fast decay time, and good proportionality. Additionally, the cost for manufacturing a scintillation detector like NaI:Tl is usually considerably lower than the cost for manufacturing a semiconductor detector like CdZnTe. Because there is no one ideal scintillation material, an application requiring certain detection characteristics may incorporate a scintillator tailored to its specific properties. The vast variety of applications and requirements necessitates more research into new scintillation materials and/or better methods of producing existing materials. The goal of this project is to grow low cost and environmentally stable inorganic transparent ceramic scintillators with excellent gamma ray resolution, excellent energy proportionality, excellent detection efficiency due to high density (>5 g/cm3) and very high Zeff (55-80), and good light yields (>40,000 ph/MeV). We will develop low cost and environmentally stable highly efficient inorganic transparent ceramic scintillators of various dimensions by hot uniaxial pressing and investigate their scintillation properties in comparison to the single crystal counterpart. Inorganic transparent ceramic scintillators produced in this project will enhance cost effectiveness at instrument level based on low projected cost of proposed compounds as much smaller crystal sizes would be required to achieve similar efficiency as current radioisotope identification devices (RIID’s) used in homeland security applications as well as spectrometers in high energy physics applications.