Synthesis, structure and X-ray excited luminescence of Ce3+-doped AREP2O7-type alkali rare earth diphosphates (A=Na, K, Rb, Cs; RE=Y, Lu)

The crystal structures of five new alkali rare earth diphosphates were obtained by Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles, including four alkali lutetium diphosphates ALuP2O7 (A=Na, K, Rb, Cs) and the low temperature phase of KYP2O7. The scintillation properties of Ce3+-doped AREP2O7 (A=Na, K, Rb, Cs; RE=Y, Lu) powder samples were studied under static and pulsed X-ray excitations, and featured outstanding scintillation properties with light yields 1–2 times of that of Bi4(GeO4)3 and relatively short decay time of 20–28 ns. Considering the suitable emission wavelength range, large light yield, short decay time, and non-hygroscopic nature, Ce3+-doped AREP2O7-type alkali rare earth diphosphates are potential candidates for high-counting-rate scintillation applications.