Empirical estimation of band gaps, and Ce3+ and Eu2+ absorption energies for new radiation detector materials

The number of possible crystalline materials is vast and few have been explored as radiation detector materials. In this work we present an empirical approach for estimating band gaps, and Ce³⁺ and Eu²⁺ absorption energies of compounds using only their chemical formulas. The result would be useful in identifying candidate semiconductor detector materials (band gap between 1.5 and 2.5 eV) and Ce³⁺ and Eu²⁺ activated scintillator detector materials (low band gap that is greater than the activator absorption energy).