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Impact of precursor purity on optical properties and radiation detection of CsI:Tl scintillators

Applied Physics A volume 122, Article number: 729 (2016) Cite this article

Abstract

Cesium iodide doped with thallium (CsI:Tl) crystals was grown to develop the gamma-ray detectors by using low-cost raw materials. Effect of impurities on optical properties and radiation detection performance was investigated. By a modified homemade Bridgman–Stockbarger technique, CsI:Tl samples were grown in two levels of CsI and TlI reactant materials, i.e., having as a very high purity of 99.999 % and a high purity of 99.9 %. XRD measurements indicate CsI:Tl crystals having a good quality with a dominant (110) plane. Having a cubic structure, a lattice constant of CsI crystals of 0.4574 nm and a crystallite size of 43.539 nm were obtained. From the lower-purity raw materials, calcite was found in an orange crystal with a lattice constant of 0.4560 nm and a crystallite size of 43.089 nm. By PL measurements, the optical properties of the CsI:Tl crystals were analyzed. ~540-nm-wavelength PL peak was observed from the colorless high-purity crystal, and ~600-nm-wavelength PL peak was observed from the orange crystal. The brighter PL emission was obtained from the orange crystals suggesting impurities. CsI:Tl surface morphology by SEM exhibited a smooth surface with some parallel crystal facets. For electrical properties of high-quality CsI:Tl crystals, the electrical resistances were 230 ± 16 MΩ in cross-sectional direction and 714 ± 136 MΩ in vertical direction with respect to more homogeneous crystal quality in cross-sectional direction than that in vertical direction. TEM measurement was applied to evaluate the microstructure of colorless CsI:Tl crystal with different patterns of a cubic structure. Both CsI:Tl crystals show good efficiencies and good resolutions. Maintaining the same electronic conditions and amplifications, the colorless CsI:Tl scintillators represented a higher detection efficiency at 122 keV of Co-57 of 78.4 % and the energy resolution of 23.3 % compared to the detection efficiency of 75.9 % and the energy resolution of 34.6 % of the orange scintillators. In summary, the unintended impurity as calcite in low-cost CsI:Tl scintillators was found to enhance PL emission but shift the PL wavelength. However, efficiency of radiation detection is slightly lower. By coupling with a suitable PMT, the radiation detection efficiency of low-cost CsI:Tl scintillators can be improved. From these valuable results, growing new ternary materials as CsCaI2 or CsI:Ca or Ca-codoped CsI:Tl scintillators could be one of the promising approaches to achieve highly efficient and low-cost radiation detectors with the optimization of the crystal growth conditions in the future.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been financially supported by Ratchadapiseksompotch Fund, Chulalongkorn University and The Thailand Research Fund under contract No. TRG58802265.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Phannee Saengkaew, Kulthawat Cheewajaroen, Chadet Yenchai & Decho Thong-aram

  2. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Sakuntam Sanorpim

  3. Department of Applied Radiation and Isotope, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Manit Jitpukdee

  4. National Metal and Materials Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Ministry of Science and Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand

    Visittapong Yordsri & Chanchana Thanachayanont

  5. National Electronic and Computer Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Ministry of Science and Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand

    Noppadon Nuntawong

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  1. Phannee Saengkaew
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Saengkaew, P., Sanorpim, S., Jitpukdee, M. et al. Impact of precursor purity on optical properties and radiation detection of CsI:Tl scintillators. Appl. Phys. A 122, 729 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-016-0254-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-016-0254-x

Keywords

  • Orange Crystal
  • CaI2
  • Cesium Iodide
  • Crystal Growth Direction
  • Crystal Growth Condition