Nature of Radiative Recombination Processes in Layered Heterogeneous PbCdI 2 Thick Films: Promising Scintillator Materials

For the first time, PbCdI 2 alloys in the form of thick films were prepared on a glass substrate using the conventional one-step chemical deposition method. The studies of the structural properties of these films showed that they have a very complex crystal structure, where PbI 2 microcrystallites of micron and submicron sizes, as well as small nanoclusters (NCLs), are randomly formed in the CdI 2 crystal matrix. It was found that the films show intense photo- and cathodoluminescence at room temperature. The temperature dependence of PL spectra of thick PbCdI 2 films was studied. The nature of various radiative recombination processes in PbCdI 2 films was established and it was shown that their PL spectra at room temperature are equally determined both by surface states in small PbI 2 NCLs and by intrinsic defects in microcrystallites. The obtained PbCdI 2 thick films can be considered as novel promising semiconductor materials for the development of effective inexpensive scintillator detectors for biomedical and industrial applications.