Large-scale synthesis of CexLa1−xF3 nanocomposite scintillator materials

Abstract

Transparent nanocomposites have been developed which consist of nanocrystals embedded in an organic matrix. The materials are comprised of up to 60% by volume of 7–13 nm crystals of the phosphor CexLa1−xF3, and are greater than 70% transparent in the visible region at a thickness of 1 cm. Consistencies of the nanocomposites range from a solid polymer to a wax to a liquid, depending on the workup conditions of the nanoparticle synthesis. These transparent nanophosphor composite materials have potential applications in radiation detection as scintillators, as well as in other areas such as imaging and lighting, and can be produced on large scales up to near-kilogram quantities at near ambient conditions, much lower in temperature than typical nanoparticle syntheses.