Luminescence properties of Er3+ and Tm3+ doped BaY2F8

This paper reports the characterization of BaY2F8 doped with different concentrations of Er3+ and Tm3+ ions and their potential use as scintillators in radiation detection. Two types of samples were studied, polycrystalline samples, obtained via solid state reaction, and single crystals obtained via the zone melting method under a HF flow. The radioluminescence when excited with X-ray, showed emission peaks characteristics of the 4f–4f transitions of rare earths. Thermoluminescence measurements were done to study the traps that can inhibit the scintillating process. The radiation damage was evaluated and it was showed that the formation of the absorption bands can be connected to color centers generated by radiation in the matrix. Measurements of Dispersive X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy revealed that there is no change in the absorption edge of the dopant during irradiation indicating that the color centers are not connected to changes in the valence of the dopants but are direct connected to the defects due to the BaYF2 matrix. -- Highlights: ► Er and Tm doped BaYF sample showed emission in the visible region of the spectrum. ► Different Concentrations of dopant were studied for all samples. ► Not a relationship of the efficiency with the concentration of dopant