Spectral properties and β-ray scintillation of GdVO4:Eu single crystals grown by the floating zone method

GdVO4:Eu single crystals were successfully grown along the [110] direction by the floating zone method. The grown crystals had no cracks and inclusions for any Eu-concentration. The polarizing microscopy proved that the grown crystal contained no microscopic defects such as low-angle grain boundaries and inclusions. The crystal showed red fluorescence with the peak wavelength of 620 nm. The emission showed strong polarization dependence; the emission of π-polarization is more intensive than that of strongly the σ-polarization. Under irradiation of X-ray or electron beam, the crystals also showed strong red fluorescence based on the host excitation. The fluorescence lifetime was measured to be about 785 μs. Scintillation the GdVO4:Eu single crystals for β-ray was successfully demonstrated using nuclear medicine 18F-fludeoxyglucose. •GdVO4:Eu single crystals were grown by the floating zone method.•Under the irradiation of X-ray and electron beam, the crystals showed red fluorescence.•The photoluminescence of the GdVO4:Eu single crystals showed strong polarization dependence.•Scintillation the GdVO4:Eu single crystals for β-ray was successfully demonstrated.