Mechanical solid-state formation of Y1−xCexAlO3 and its application as an X-ray scintillator

Mechanical solid-state reaction with a high-energy ball mill can be used not only for metallurgical reactions, but also for preparing complex oxides. The present paper describes its successful application to the synthesis of cerium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite, Y1−xCexAlO3, which exhibits a promising optical response to X-ray irradiation. The technique uses crystallization from a strongly disordered non-equilibrium phase prepared by ball milling. It has been found that the combination of yttria and aluminum hydroxide powders as the starting materials is satisfactory in avoiding contamination from balls and vials. Mixing with ceria powder and then heating to at most 1150°C enables the transition to the crystalline phase and the substitution of cerium to the yttrium site simultaneously. The synthesis of a similar scintillating material Y3−yCeyAl5O12 is reported as well.