Ternary metal halide scintillators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190969-A1
Application number	US-201715462391-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 17, 2017
Priority date	Jul 19, 2013
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Metal halide scintillators are described. More particularly, the scintillators include doped (e.g., europium-doped) ternary metal halides, such as those of the formulas A 2 BX 4 and AB 2 X 5 , wherein A is an alkali metal, such as Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs or any combination thereof; B is an alkali earth metal, such as Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba or any combination thereof; and X is a halide, such as Cl, Br, I, F or any combination thereof. Radiation detectors comprising the novel metal halide scintillators and other ternary metal halides, such as those of the formulas A 2 EuX 4 and AEu 2 X 5 , wherein A is an alkali metal and X is a halide, are also described.

First claim

1 - 28 . (canceled)

29 . A scintillator material comprising Formula (II):
AB 2(1-y) L 2y X 5   (II),

wherein:
0.0001≦y≦0.5;
A is one or more alkali metal;
B is one or more alkali earth metal;
L is selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Tb, Yb, and Pr; and
X is a combination of halides selected from I, F, Cl, and Br.

30 . The scintillator material of claim 29 , wherein A is selected from the group consisting of K, Rb and Cs.

31 . A radiation detector comprising a photon detector and a scintillation material, wherein the scintillation material comprises a scintillator material of claim 29 .

32 . The radiation detector of claim 31 , wherein the detector is a medical diagnostic device, a device for oil exploration, or a device for container or baggage scanning.

33 . A method of detecting gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays, and/or particles having an energy of 1 keV or greater, the method comprising using the radiation detector of claim 31 .

34 . A method of preparing a scintillator material of claim 29 , wherein the method comprises heating a mixture of raw materials above their respective melting temperatures.

35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the method comprises:
(a) providing a mixture of raw materials, wherein the raw materials are provided in a stoichiometric ratio according to Formula (II):
AB 2(1-y) L 2y X 5   (II),

wherein:
0.0001≦y≦0.5;
A is one or more alkali metal;
B is one or more alkali earth metal;
L is selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Tb, Yb, and Pr; and
X is a combination of halides selected from I, F, Cl, and Br;
(b) sealing said mixture in a sealed container;
(c) heating the mixture to about 20° C. above the melting point of the raw material having the highest melting point for a period of time; and
(d) cooling the mixture to about room temperature.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein steps (c) and (d) are repeated one or more times.

37 . A radiation detector comprising a photon detector and a scintillation material, wherein the scintillation material comprises Formula (II′):
AB 2(1-z) L 2z X 5   (II′),

wherein:
0.0001≦z≦1.0;
A is one or more alkali metal;
B is one or more alkali earth metal;
L is selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Tb, Yb, and Pr; and
X is a combination of halides selected from I, F, Cl, and Br.

38 . The radiation detector of claim 37 , wherein A is selected from the group consisting of K, Rb, and Cs.

39 . The radiation detector of claim 37 , wherein the detector is a medical diagnostic device, a device for oil exploration, or a device for container or baggage scanning.

40 . A method of detecting gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays, and/or particles having an energy of 1 keV or greater, the method comprising using the radiation detector of claim 37 .

41 . A scintillator material comprising Formula (II):
AB 2(1-y) L 2y X 5   (II),

wherein:
0.0001≦y≦0.5;
A is one or more alkali metal;
B is one or more alkali earth metal;
L is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Tb, Yb, and Pr; and
X is one or more halide.

42 . The scintillator material of claim 41 , wherein A is selected from the group consisting of K, Rb, and Cs.

43 . The scintillator material of claim 41 , wherein A is K.

44 . The scintillator material of claim 41 , wherein B is selected from Sr and Ba.

45 . The scintillator material of claim 41 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of I, Cl, and Br.

46 . The scintillator material of claim 41 , wherein X is I.

47 . The scintillator material of claim 41 , wherein L is Ce or Pr.

48 . A radiation detector comprising a photon detector and a scintillation material, wherein the scintillation material comprises a scintillator material of claim 41 .

49 . The radiation detector of claim 48 , wherein the detector is a medical diagnostic device, a device for oil exploration, or a device for container or baggage scanning.

50 . A method of detecting gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays, and/or particles having an energy of 1 keV or greater, the method comprising using the radiation detector of claim 48 .

51 . A method of preparing a scintillator material of claim 41 , wherein the method comprises heating a mixture of raw materials above their respective melting temperatures.

52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the method comprises:
(a) providing a mixture of raw materials, wherein the raw materials are provided in a stoichiometric ratio according to Formula (II):
AB 2(1-y) L 2y X 5   (II),

wherein:
0.0001≦y≦0.5;
A is one or more alkali metal;
B is one or more alkali earth metal;
L is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Tb, Yb, and Pr; and
X is one or more halide;
(b) sealing said mixture in a sealed container;
(c) heating the mixture to about 20° C. above the melting point of the raw material having the highest melting point for a period of time; and
(d) cooling the mixture to about room temperature.

53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein steps (c) and (d) are repeated one or more times.

54 . A radiation detector comprising a photon detector and a scintillation material, wherein the scintillation material comprises Formula (II′):
AB 2(1-z) L 2z X 5   (II′),

wherein:
0.0001≦z≦1.0;
A is one or more alkali metal;
B is one or more alkali earth metal;
L is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Tb, Yb, and Pr; and
X is one or more halide.

55 . The radiation detector of claim 54 , wherein A is selected from the group consisting of K, Rb, and Cs.

56 . The radiation detector of claim 54 , wherein A is K.

57 . The radiation detector of claim 54 , wherein B is selected from Sr and Ba.

58 . The radiation detector of claim 54 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of I, Cl, and Br.

59 . The radiation detector of claim 54 , wherein X is I.

60 . The radiation detector of claim 54 , wherein L is Ce or Pr.

61 . The radiation detector of claim 54 , wherein the detector is a medical diagnostic device, a device for oil exploration, or a device for container or baggage scanning.

62 . A method of detecting gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays, and/or particles having an energy of 1 keV or greater, the method comprising using the radiation detector of claim 54 .

Assignees

• Univ Tennessee Res Found

Inventors

• Stand Luis
• Zhuravleva Mariya
• Melcher Charles L

Classifications

• G01T1/2023

  Selection of materials · CPC title

• G01T1/2018

  Scintillation-photodiode combinations · CPC title

• C09K11/7733 Primary

  with alkali or alkaline earth metals · CPC title

• G01T1/20185

  Coupling means between the photodiode and the scintillator, e.g. optical couplings using adhesives with wavelength-shifting fibres · CPC title

• G21K2004/10

  with a protective film · CPC title