Preparation of fluoride-phosphate glass and glass-ceramics doped with rare-earth ions for potential use as radiation detectors

Abstract

The purpose of the project is the preparation and characterization of glasses and glass-ceramics of mixed fluoride-phosphate systems based on indium and / or sodium phosphate with alkali metal fluoride doped with rare earth ions with specific characteristics for the development of new materials that have radiation detection properties of the X- type and UV radiation through the process called scintillation. Great emphasis will be given to the preparation and the optical and structural characterization of glasses, as well as the study of crystallization and its photophysical properties. The glasses will be prepared by themelting-quenching technique and the glass-ceramics will be obtained by heat treatment in the glass.The glasses will be prepared from the components: sodium metaphosphate NaPO3, and indium phosphate In(PO3)3; alkali fluorides: NaF, LiF; alkaline-earth fluorides: ZnF2, MgF2, BaF2, CaF2, SrF2; and InF3 indium fluoride; and doped with the rare earth fluorides CeF3, EuF3, TbF3, GdF3. They should contain a relatively high concentration of indium fluoride or in order to ensure good chemical durability, good solubility of rare earth ions to a minimum of 10 wt.%, Without undergoing devitrification during the glass synthesis process, and provide a environment for the luminescent species in order to obtain a higher emission efficiency.After having determined different glass compositions meeting these requirements, crystallization tests will be done by heat treatment. Glass pieces will thus be annealed at a temperature above the glass transition temperature. Compositions that exhibit crystallization in the volume will then be selected to optimize crystallization parameters such as temperature and time of heat treatment.Thermal, optical and structural properties will be studied by Thermal Analysis (DSC and DMTA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis-NIR Spectroscopy, Raman, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and M-Lines, Optical Microscopy and Luminescence in glasses and glass-ceramic doped with the rare earth ions CeF3, EuF3, TbF3, GdF3 and others.