Improved growth and scintillation properties of intrinsic, non-hygroscopic scintillator Cs2HfCl6

• Published in: Journal of luminescence 2020-01, Vol.217 (C), p.116784, Article 116784
• Main Authors: Ariesanti, E., Hawrami, R., Burger, A., Motakef, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cs-based scintillator; Hf-based scintillator; High light yield; Intrinsic scintillator
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2019.116784

This paper focuses on recent successful and improved growth runs of single phase Cs2HfCl6 (CHC) as well as improvement to its radiometric and scintillation performance. Two single crystal CHC boules of 15 mm in diameter are grown using the vertical Bridgman method. Samples retrieved from each boule are characterized for their optical and scintillation properties. Energy resolution of 2.8% (FWHM) at 662 keV has been obtained. Gamma-ray non-proportionality of CHC is compared to those of NaI:Tl and BGO. Decay times are measured to be at least 246 ns (13%) and 3.3 μs (87%) for CHC, an improvement to previously reported values. In this paper we also present growth and scintillation performance of Cs2Hf(Cl1-xBrx)6 with Cl/Br = 2/1 relation (CHC/B), as well as its scintillation decay times. •Successful growth of a crack-free, transparent, and single crystal boule of intrinsic scintillator Cs2HfCl6 (CHC).•Energy resolution of 2.8% (FWHM) at 662 keV and light yield of 27,000 ph/MeV have been achieved.•CHC has a linear response to photon above 100 keV.