Radiation induced luminescence properties of Ce-doped Y2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 glass prepared using floating zone furnace

We synthesized Y2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 glasses doped with various concentrations of Ce (0, 0.03%, 0.10%, 0.30%, and 1.00%). The glasses were obtained by melt-quenching using an IR mirror furnace, and then they were studied in terms of their optical, dosimetric and scintillation properties. The obtained samples indicated photoluminescence (PL) and scintillation due to the 5d–4f transitions of Ce3+ characterized as a broad emission peaking around 350 nm. The PL and scintillation decay times were 35.4–38.1 ns and 47–109 ns, respectively. The 0.10% Ce-doped sample showed the highest PL quantum yield (20%) among the synthesized samples. The quantum yield was well-correlated with the decay time of PL and scintillation. Thermally- and optically-stimulated luminescence were observed after the irradiation of X-rays (10 Gy). The thermally- and optically-stimulated luminescence spectra were confirmed that the luminescence was due to the 5d–4f transitions of Ce3+ in the 0.03% and 0.10% Ce-doped samples. Overall, the samples showed sensitive response of thermally-stimulated luminescence, and it was the highest for the 0.10% and 0.30% Ce-doped samples, having the dynamic range from 0.01 mGy to 1 Gy. •Ce-doped Y2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 glasses were successfully synthesized by the floating zone furnace.•Scintillation, PL and TSL emissions were predominantly due to the 5d-4f transitions of Ce3+.•Ce-doped Y2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 glasses showed sensitive TSL response to X-ray dose.•Dynamic range as TSL dosimeter was confirmed to be at least 0.01 mGy–1 Gy.