Czochralski Growth of ${\rm Ce}^{3+}$ -Doped ${\rm Li}_{6}{\rm Gd}({\rm BO}_{3})_{3}$ Single C

The Ce³⁺ doped Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃ (LGBO) crystal is a promising scintillation crystal for thermal neutron detection. This crystal can be grown by Czochralski technique or modified Bridgman method for its melting point at about 848°C. With a lower radial temperature gradient, the LGBO crystal using CeO₂ as dopant host (CeO₂:LGBO) can only be grown with the diameter less than 15 mm with a smaller shouldering angle. The viscosity of the melt will be decreased and the crystal diameter can be effectively enlarged by using CeF₃ as dopant host (CeF₃:LGBO) when the crystals are grown with the same growth parameters. By increasing the radial temperature gradient, larger diameter single crystals of CeO₂:LGBO with the diameter of 30 mm or 40 mm have been grown with a larger shouldering angle. The excitation and emission peaks will red shift and the X-ray excited luminescence emission intensity will be increased by using CeF₃ instead of CeO₂ as dopant host.