ECAMP 15

Scintillating materials are finding their application as radiation detectors in many fields of human activity, such as medicine (TOF-PET), high-energy and space research, border crossing safety controls and others. The most used and studied materials so far are solid-state systems, such as CsI:Tl, Bi4Ge3O12, Y(Lu)3Al5O12:Ce, (Lu,Y)2SiO5:Ce and others. In recent years, distributed radiation sensors based on optical fibers have attracted attention, thanks to many advantages, such as resistance to electrical or magnetic interference, allowing the detection of a distant signal [1]. The creation of the inorganic composite nanoparticles and their distribution inside the glass matrix can improve the nanostructuring of the fiber core. Among others, glass-ceramics system with a general formula Na2O-ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 is a perspective inorganic matrix. The dispersed crystalline nanoparticles possess significant scintillation properties. Due to the variability of the composition, it is possible to influence the formation of different phases as well as the size of the resulting nanoparticles [2].
The aim of the study is to investigate the structural, optical and scintillation properties of the mentioned glass-ceramics system. The efficient and fast emission located in the UV-visible spectral range under the ionizing radiation excitation was the goal of our research. The glass-ceramics compounds were prepared by the melt-quenching method, and the crystallization was induced by controlled heat treatment. The structure and optical properties of the prepared materials were characterized by the X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The steady-state and time-resolved photo- and radioluminescence properties were analyzed in broad energy and temperature range using a variety of excitation sources including also synchrotron radiation facility. The scintillating properties were evaluated, and the potential of prepared scintillating composites was assessed.

This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation project no. GA23-05507S and DESY (Germany) projects for the research with synchrotron radiation no. I-20211395 EC, I-20231298 EC.

[1] J. Liu, X. Zhao, Y. Xu, H. Wu, X. Xu, P. Lu, X. Zhang, X. Zhao, M. Xia, J. Tang, G. Niu, “All-Inorganic Glass Scintillators: Scintillation Mechanism, Materials, and Applications”, Laser Photonics Rev. 17, 2300006 (2023).
[2] V. Jarý, P. Vařák, V. Babin, J. Hrabovský, A. Michalcová, J. Volf, P. Nekvindová, J. Mrázek, “Scintillation properties of zinc-silicate glass-ceramics based on Zn2SiO4 willemite phase”, Opt. Mater. 162, 116961 (2025).