Development and characterization of novel fast nanosized scintillator Y2SiO5: Ce3+ prepared by polymer-assisted Sol–Gel method for radiation detection applications

Abstract

In this study, three sample detectors were meticulously crafted using cerium-activated X1-Y2SiO5: Ce3+ powder prepared via the monomer and polymer-assisted sol–gel method. The investigation aimed to assess how ethylene glycol (EG) monomer, polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer influence the Coincidence Timing Resolution (CTR) of Ce3+ (xCe = 0.01)-doped Y2SiO5, with the goal to enhance radiation detection technologies. An advanced nuclear instrumentation system was set up to measure the coincidence timing resolution using 511 keV annihilation photons emitted by a 22Na radioactive source. Results showed that complexing agents significantly affected the CTR of YSO: Ce3+ nanoscintillators, with the EG-prepared sample detector exhibiting the most favorable CTR of 480±21 ps. These findings enhance our understanding of YSO: Ce3+ nanoscintillators’ synthesis and optimization, underscoring the pivotal role of the chemical environment and emphasizing the superior performance of ethylene glycol. These insights provide valuable avenues for further advancements in radiation detection and medical imaging applications