Synthesis and scintillation properties of CsGd2Cl7:Ce3+ for gamma ray and neutron detection

In this work, we report on optical and scintillation properties of a new scintillation material CsGd2Cl7:Ce. Crystals were grown in vacuum sealed ampoules, and the response to gamma rays and thermal neutrons was characterized. The scintillation light yield was ∼38,000 ph/MeV, and the primary decay time was 60 ns under γ-ray excitation. A thermal neutron response resulting from capture by 157Gd and 155Gd and subsequent emission of conversion electrons and X-rays was observed. The crystals exhibited a layered structure with cleavage planes and relatively low hygroscopicity.