SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SrF2 AND SrF2:Ce3+ NANOPARTICLES FOR GAMMA RAY DETECTION

SrF2 and SrF2:xCe3+ (x=0.5%-10%) nanoparticles were synthesized using chemical co-precipitation method. Structural and optical properties of the undoped and cerium doped nanoparticles were characterized with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), and Photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Average sizes of the synthesized nanoparticles were determined from the broadening of X-Ray Diffraction peaks using Debye-Scherer equation. Estimated values were ranging between 30 nm-52 nm. All synthesized nanoparticles show photoluminescence characteristics with an excitation and emission peaks centered at 232 nm and 464 nm, respectively. Disc shaped bulk nanocomposite scintillators were also fabricated using synthesized SrF2 and SrF2:1% Ce3+ nanoparticles as phosphor fillers and epoxy resin as matrix material. Energy spectrums of bulk nanocomposite scintillators were collected using Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60 point sources. Gamma ray energy responses of the fabricated scintillator materials revealed the fact that these nanocomposites have a potential for the detection of gamma rays and energy discrimination of the radioactive sources