Influence of co-doped alumina on the microstructure and radioluminescence of SrHfO3:Ce ceramics

SrHfO 3 :Ce and SrHfO 3 :Ce,Al powders were prepared by the solid-state synthesis using the commercial HfO 2 , SrCO 3 , CeO 2 and α-Al 2 O 3 as the starting materials. All the SrHfO 3 :Ce and SrHfO 3 :Ce,Al powders calcined at different temperatures within 1100 °C–1300 °C for 8 h in air exhibited a pure SrHfO 3 phase. Meanwhile, the effects of different calcination temperatures and co-doped alumina on the microstructure of SrHfO 3 :Ce,Al powders were discussed. SrHfO 3 :Ce and SrHfO 3 :Ce,Al ceramics were successfully fabricated via the vacuum sintering at 1800 °C for 20 h. The alumina acted as the sintering aid, which promoted the densification and eliminated the intragranular pores of SrHfO 3 :Ce,Al ceramics. The charge disbalance was effectively compensated by co-doped alumina. SrHfO 3 :Ce,Al ceramics exhibited a higher light yield of 5700 ph/MeV compared with 4600 ph/MeV obtained in SrHfO 3 :Ce ceramics. The charge traps in ceramics and their effects on scintillation properties were also investigated by thermoluminescence measurement.