Crystal growth and scintillation properties of Cs3CeX6 and CsCe2X7 (X = Cl, Br)

A new family of Ce-containing scintillator materials is introduced. Single crystals of Cs₃CeCl₆, Cs₃CeBr₆, CsCe₂Cl₇ and CsCe₂Br₇ were grown in quartz ampoules by the Bridgman method. The crystals have been evaluated for application in gamma ray detection. The scintillation properties of these crystals such as emission, decay time, light output and energy resolution are presented. Radioluminescence spectra showed Ce³⁺ characteristic emission bands centered in the blue region. Principal scintillation decay time was approximately 50 ns plus a slow component of around 200-300 ns. Scintillation light yield was ~19,000 ph/MeV for Cs₃CeCl₆, 26,000 ph/MeV for CsCe₂Cl₇, 28,000 ph/Mev for Cs₃CeBr₆, and 40,000 ph/MeV for CsCe₂Br₇.