15 lutetium compounds screened for Ce3+ activated scintillation

We report the scintillation luminosities, decay times, and emission wavelengths of eight new Ce3⁺ activated lutetium scintillators, two of which are also new compounds. Candidate compounds were (1) selected by empirical estimates of densities, bandgaps, and the potentials for Ce3⁺ activation; (2) synthesized as crystalline granules in arrays of automated furnaces; (3) verified by X-ray diffractometry; and (4) measured by X-ray luminescence spectroscopy and pulsed X-rays. By calibrating with Lu₂SiO₅:Ce crystals of similar grain size (average 0.5 mm) we estimate that the luminosities of the eight new scintillators range from 1000 to 27,000 photons/MeV and all show the characteristic Ce3⁺ doublet emission. The same undoped compounds have intrinsic scintillation with lower luminosities and different emission spectra. While most of these scintillators do not have properties that make them candidates for widespread use, their data will contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors that limit scintillation performance. In addition, we list seven lutetium compounds whose intrinsic scintillation was quenched by the incorporation of Ce3⁺.