High Quantum Efficiency Rare-Earth-Doped Gd(2)O(2)S:Tb, F Scintillators for Cold Neutron Imaging

High-resolution neutron radiography provides novel and stirring opportunities to investigate the structures of light elements encased by heavy elements. For this study, a series of Gd(2)O(2)S:Tb, F particles were prepared using a high-temperature solid phase method and then used as a scintillation screen. Upon reaching 293 nm excitation, a bright green emission originated from the Tb(3+) luminescence center. The level of F doping affected the fluorescence intensity. When the F doping level was 8 mol%, the fluorescence intensity was at its highest. The absolute quantum yield of the synthesized particles reached as high as 77.21%. Gd(2)O(2)S:Tb, F particles were applied to the scintillation screen, showing a resolution on the neutron radiograph as high as 12 μm. These results suggest that the highly efficient Gd(2)O(2)S:Tb, F particles are promising scintillators for the purposes of cold neutron radiography.