Luminescence and scintillation properties of Eu2+ doped CaF2 glass ceramics for radiation spectroscopy

A new scintillation material including CaF2: Eu nanocrystals contained in SiO2–Al2O3–CaO–CaF2–LiF system was successfully prepared via melting method with additional heat treatment. Structural and luminescence properties were investigated by characterization techniques including XRD, SEM, photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra and absorption profile. The emission intensity of the glass ceramics containing CaF2: Eu nanocrystals under illumination at 356 nm were significantly more than the as-made glass and enhanced with increasing the temperature and duration of the heat treatment. Spectral analysis of gamma rays showed a full-energy peak in comparison with the similar chemical compositions that do not show such a response. Also an energy continuum with specific reaction-product peak was detected for thermal neutrons. The scintillation efficiency was enhanced with increasing crystallization. The fabricated Eu-doped transparent CaF2 glass ceramics has the potential to be a desired composite scintillator for detection of low energy gamma rays and thermal neutrons. •Eu doped CaF2 transparent glass ceramics were prepared by melt-quenching method with subsequent heat treatment.•Optical and scintillation properties of CaF2 glass ceramics was characterized.•The scintillation response of CaF2 glass ceramics were better than those of the glass ceramics of the similar compositions.•Present compositions of CaF2 glass ceramics have the potential of a novel nanocomposite scintillator.