Synthesis and characterization of lanthanide halide scintillating nanocrystals for gamma radiation detection

Colloidal synthesis of core/shell nanocrystals with cerium-doped lanthanum fluoride core and undoped lanthanum fluoride shell, and of core/shell nanocrystals with hygroscopic cerium-doped lanthanum bromide core and undoped lanthanum fluoride shell is reported. The nanocrystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis, steady state UV-VIS optical absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, and by photoluminescence lifetime measurements. Radiation hardness testing results are described. Scintillation tests were performed on the cerium-doped lanthanum fluoride nanocrystalline material exposed to low-level gamma irradiation.