Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • GGBS 1 glass achieves a photoluminescence quantum yield of 78.4% and a transmittance of ~80% in the visible range, enabling efficient light collection for imaging and spectroscopy. • • Under X-ray excitation, GGBS 1 exhibits a peak luminescence intensity 128.5% that of BGO crystal and a spatial resolution of 29.1 lp/mm, approaching the highest reported for glass scintillators, making it suitable for high-resolution X-ray imaging. • • Under γ-ray excitation, GGBS 1 delivers a light yield of 1058 photons/MeV with an energy resolution of 23.7% at 662 keV, demonstrating competitive performance for γ-ray spectroscopy. • • The glass scintillator shows fast scintillation decay (fast component: 96.8–102.8 ns; slow component: 351.5–402.2 ns) and rise times decreasing from 90.6 to 84.4 ns with increasing Gd2O3 content, enabling rapid event timing in high-energy physics.
Abstract
High-density glass scintillators are promising alternatives to crystals for next-generation radiation detection due to their low cost, excellent physical and chemical stability, and processability. In this study, a series of Ce3+-activated gadolinium gallium borosilicate (GGBS x) glasses were synthesized via vacuum melt-quenching. With increasing Gd2O3 content, glass density increased from 5.86 to 6.05 g/cm3, and molar volume from 36.43 to 39.79 cm3/mol. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis revealed that in GGBS 1 glass, Ce3+ exclusively adopts a hexahedral [CeO6] configuration, while Gd3+ exhibits both hexahedral and octahedral coordination with a bond length of 2.35±0.1 Å and Debye-Waller factor σ2 of 0.0122±0.0015 Å2. As Gd2O3 content increased, shallow trap depth rose from 0.804 to 0.858 eV, while deep trap depth first increased from 0.948 to 1.434 eV then decreased to 1.010 eV. GGBS 1 glass exhibited high transmittance (~80%) in the visible range and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 78.4%. Under X-ray irradiation, its X-ray excited luminescence intensity reached 128.5% of that of Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) crystal, with a spatial resolution of 29.1 lp/mm, approaching the highest reported for glass scintillators. Under γ-ray excitation, it achieved a light yield of 1058 photons/MeV and an energy resolution of 23.7% at 662 keV. These results indicate that GGBS 1 glass scintillator warrants further development for applications in X-ray imaging and γ-ray spectroscopy.
1. Introduction
Scintillator-based detectors are indispensable in nuclear imaging, industrial CT, and high-energy physics, yet conventional crystals like BGO suffer from high cost and complex fabrication. Plastic and ceramic scintillators are limited by low density or poor transparency, respectively. Glass scintillators offer a cost-effective and processable alternative, but achieving high density and high spatial resolution remains a bottleneck. Prior glass scintillators have shown spatial resolutions around 14 lp/mm, far below that of CsI:Tl crystals, limiting their use in high-resolution X-ray imaging.
This work addresses these limitations by developing a novel Ce3+-activated gadolinium gallium borosilicate glass via vacuum melt-quenching. The incorporation of Gd2O3 increases density to above 5.8 g/cm3, while the vacuum environment ensures Ce3+ stabilization and high transparency. The resulting GGBS 1 glass achieves a spatial resolution of 29.1 lp/mm, approaching the best reported for glass scintillators, and a light yield of 1058 photons/MeV under γ-ray excitation. These metrics demonstrate that the proposed glass composition and preparation method effectively overcome the traditional trade-off between density and performance, offering a viable path for next-generation radiation detection applications.
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Zhehao Hua, Dandan Zhang, Yuecheng Lai, Hua Cai, Haizheng Tao, Sen Qian, Jifeng Han, Lili Hu, Jinsheng Jia, Weichang Li, Xvsheng Qiao, Jing Ren, Xin-Yuan Sun, Gao Tang, Yinsheng Xu, Shenghua Yin, Huiping Yuan, Lirong Zheng (2026). Novel Ce3+-activated gadolinium-based glass prepared in vacuum: structure and scintillation. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3642-4
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum spatial resolution achieved by GGBS 1 glass, and how does it compare to commercial scintillators?
GGBS 1 glass achieves a spatial resolution of 29.1 lp/mm, which is significantly higher than typical glass scintillators (e.g., 14 lp/mm reported in 2025) and approaches the performance of CsI:Tl crystals. This high resolution is attributed to the high density and transparency of the glass, enabling fine detail in X-ray imaging.
How does the light yield of GGBS 1 glass under γ-ray excitation compare to BGO, and what is the energy resolution?
GGBS 1 glass exhibits a light yield of 1058 photons/MeV at 662 keV, which is lower than BGO (typically ~8,000 photons/MeV) but sufficient for many applications. Its energy resolution of 23.7% at 662 keV is comparable to some glass scintillators, though inferior to high-performance crystals. The trade-off is cost and processability.
What is the effect of Gd2O3 content on the scintillation decay times and light yield?
As Gd2O3 content increases, the light yield decreases from 1058 to 639 photons/MeV, while the scintillation decay times increase (fast component: 96.8 to 102.8 ns; slow component: 351.5 to 402.2 ns). This is attributed to enhanced energy transfer and direct excitation from Gd3+, which also reduces rise times from 90.6 to 84.4 ns.
What are the structural characteristics of Ce3+ and Gd3+ in GGBS 1 glass as determined by EXAFS?
EXAFS analysis shows that Ce3+ exclusively adopts a hexahedral [CeO6] configuration, while Gd3+ exhibits both hexahedral and octahedral coordination. The Gd–O bond length is 2.35±0.1 Å with a Debye-Waller factor σ2 of 0.0122±0.0015 Å2, indicating a well-defined local structure that contributes to efficient luminescence.
What are the potential applications of GGBS 1 glass scintillator in high-energy physics and nuclear detection?
Given its high spatial resolution (29.1 lp/mm) and moderate light yield (1058 photons/MeV), GGBS 1 glass is suitable for X-ray imaging, particularly non-destructive inspection of microelectronics, and γ-ray spectroscopy. Its fast decay times (sub-100 ns) and good energy resolution make it a candidate for high-rate counting applications in high-energy physics experiments.
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