MPD growth of single crystals of Ce3+ doped Gd3−xLuxAl5−yGayO12 mixed garnets and their luminescent, scintillation and photoconversion properties

•Crystals of Tb3−xGdxAl5-yGayO12 (х = 0–1.5; у = 2–2.5) garnets were grown by the MPD method.•Optimization of Tb/Gd ratio improve the color rendering and scintillation properties of crystals.•Best photoconversion properties are found for Tb3-xGdxAl2.5Ga2.5O12:Ce (х = 1–1.5) crystals. This work deals with the growth of Ce3+ doped Gd3−xLuxAl5−yGayO12 mixed single crystals garnets by the micro-pulling down method and their development as phosphor-convertors of white LED (pc-WLED) and scintillators. In this research, the influence of combined technique of the “band-gap engineering” and “positioning of Ce3+ 5d-levels” in Gd3−xLux Al5−yGayO12 single crystals at x = 0 – 1.5 and y = 2–2.5 ranges, is studied with the aim to improve the material properties such as color-rendering properties of pc-WLEDs, as well as scintillation. The luminescent, scintillation and photoconversion properties of Gd3−xLuxAl5−yGayO12:Ce crystals were investigated as a function of the Gd/Lu ratio. We reviled that Gd3−xLuxAl3−2.5Ga2−2.5O12:Ce crystals at × = 1–1.5 show the best photoconversion and scintillation properties.