Crystal growth and scintillation characterizations of Tl₂LiYCl₆: Ce³⁺

Single crystals of Tl₂LiYCl₆ with different mole% of Ce-concentration (0.5 and 5 mol%) were presented. This material belongs to Chloro-elpasolite crystal family and was grown by two zone vertical Bridgman technique. X-ray diffraction pattern of the Tl₂LiYCl₆ single crystal was measured. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed tetragonal crystal structure. The melting point of the sample was measured by DSC. Typical Ce³⁺ ion emission spectra were observed when samples were excited by an X-ray source at room temperature. The observed emission spectra were located between 350 nm and 530 nm wavelength range and peaking around 430 nm. Pulse height spectra of the samples under 662 keV γ-rays excitation shows improvement in energy resolution with the increase of Ce-concentration in the host lattice. The energy resolutions were obtained to be 10.6% and 7.2% (FWHM) for 0.5% and 5% Ce³⁺ concentration, respectively. Under γ-ray excitation, a maximum light yield of 23,800±2400 ph/MeV was observed for 5% Ce-concentration. Studied samples of Tl₂LiYCl₆: Ce³⁺ showed three exponential decay time components under γ-ray excitation. From the measured scintillation properties, we consider this material is a promising scintillator for radiation detection.