The influence of CeF(3) on radiation hardness and luminescence properties of Gd(2)O(3)–B(2)O(3) glass scintillator

The effect of CeF(3) concentration and γ-irradiation on the physical, optical and luminescence properties of Gd(2)O(3)–B(2)O(3)–CeF(3) glasses were studied in this work. Before irradiation, the addition of CeF(3) in glass degraded the network connectivity observed from FTIR and possibly created the non-bridging oxygen (NBO) in glass structure. This NBO caused the reduction of Ce(3+)/Ce(4+) ratio in XANES, the red-shift in transmission spectra and the raise of refractive index with addition of CeF(3) content. Such red-shift also was influenced by 4f–5d transition of Ce(3+) dopant. This ion generated the strongest photoluminescence (PL) and radioluminescence (RL) in 0.3 mol% CeF(3)-doped glass with nanoseconds decay time. The irradiation with γ-rays damaged the glass structure, broke the chemical bonds, and created color center in the glass network. The non-bridging oxygen hole center (NBOHC), that absorbed photons in the visible light region, caused the darkening, color change and increment of refractive index. These irradiation effects on glass were mitigated by the addition of CeF(3) that the electron donation of Ce(3+) decreased the number of NBOHC. The Ce(3+)/Ce(4+) ratio in most glasses after irradiation then reduced compared to them before irradiation, resulting to the decrease in PL and RL intensity. Our results confirm that CeF(3) can enhance the radiation hardness of glass and the 0.3 mol% CeF(3)-doped glass is a promising glass scintillator.