Synthesis and Characterization of LaF3:Ce Scintillator Material

Engkir Sukirman (Research Center for Radiation Detection and Nuclear Analysis Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, KST BJ Habibie, Jalan Raya Puspiptek, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Banten, Indonesia.)
Yustinus Purwamargapratala (Research Center for Advanced Material, Research Organization for Nanotechnology and Materials, National Research and Innovation Agency, KST BJ Habibie, Jalan Raya Puspiptek, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Banten, Indonesia.)
Bambang Sugeng (Research Center for Radiation Detection and Nuclear Analysis Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy)
Wahyudianingsih Wahyudianingsih (Research Center for Radiation Detection and Nuclear Analysis Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy,National Research and Innovation Agency, KST BJ Habibie, Jalan Raya Puspiptek, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Banten, Indonesia.)
Indra Gunawan (Research Center for Radiation Detection and Nuclear Analysis Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, KST BJ Habibie, Jalan Raya Puspiptek, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Banten, Indonesia.)
Syahfandi Ahda (Research Center for Nuclear Reactor Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, KST BJ Habibie, Jalan Raya Puspiptek, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Banten, Indonesia.)
Agus Sudjatno (Research Center for Radiation Detection and Nuclear Analysis Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, KST BJ Habibie, Jalan Raya Puspiptek, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Banten, Indonesia.)
Arbi Dimyati (Research Center for Radiation Detection and Nuclear Analysis Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, KST BJ Habibie, Jalan Raya Puspiptek, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Banten, Indonesia.)

Jurnal Sains Materi Indonesia
Vol. 25 No. 1 (2023): Jurnal Sains dan Materi Indonesia

Synthesis and Characterization of LaF3:Ce Scintillator Material.Synthesis and characterization of the LaF3:Ce scintillator have been carried out. Synthesis was carried out using the co-precipitation method. In this study, the raw materials used were NaF, LaCl3•7H2O, and Ce(NO3)3•6H2O with ethanol and distilled water as a solvent; while surfactants were used oleic acid. In this study, the compound LaF3:0.2Ce was synthesized. The sample was characterized by using an X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and a Spectrofluorometer. The analyzed data showed that the 82.6 weight fraction of LaF3:0.2Ce phase has precipitated accompanied by the formation of NaCl and C2Ce phases of 5.1 and 12.3 weight fraction, respectively. The NaCl phase is a by-product of the chemical reaction: xLaCl3•7H2O + zCeCl3•7H2O + 3NaF → LaxCezF3 + 3NaCl + 7H2O which could be removed from the precipitate solution by an appropriate separation method, while the C2Ce one appeared as a result of heating the sample at 400ºC. The LaF3:Ce scintillator sample shows the phenomenon of a bluish glow with a lifetime, t = 6 × 10-10 seconds even in the presence of a foreign phase. The existence of NaCl and C2Ce as a local environment still makes LaF3:0.2Ce has normal lifetime characteristics.