Study findings from Alabama A&M University broaden understanding of crystallography

Alabama A&M Univeristy is one of the leading research institutions in crystal growth. Below are published findings reported in the June 2008 edition of Vertical News:

2008 JUN 23 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to recent research from the United States, "Cesium cerium bromide (CS2CeBr5) and potassium cerium bromide (K2CeBr5) are new scintillator materials for X-ray and gamma ray detector applications. Recently, halide scintillator materials such as Ce-doped lanthanum bromide have been proved to be very important materials for the same purpose."

"These materials are highly hygroscopic; a search for high-light-yield non-hygroscopic materials was highly desirable to advance the scintillator technology. In this paper, we are reporting the crystal growth of novel scintillator materials, CS2CeBr5 and K2CeBr5. Crystals were successfully grown from the melt using the vertical Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. In comparison with the high-performance LaBr3 or LaCl3 crystals, cerium-based alkali halide crystals, CS2CeBr5 and K2CeBr5, have similar scintillation properties, while being much less hygroscopic. Furthermore, cesium-based compounds will not suffer from the self-activity present in potassium and lanthanum compounds. However, the CS2CeBr5 crystals did not grow properly probably due to non-congruent melting or some phase transition during cooling," wrote R. Hawramia and colleagues, Alabama A&M University.

The researchers concluded: "Published by Elsevier B.V."

Hawramia and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Crystal Growth (New scintillator materials (K2CeBr5 and CS2CeBr5). Journal of Crystal Growth, 2008;310(7-9 Sp. Is):2099-2102).

For additional information, contact R. Hawramia, Alabama A&M University, Dept. of Physics, Normal, AL 35762, USA.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Crystal Growth is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.


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Source: This article was prepared by VerticalNews Electronics editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, VerticalNews Electronics via VerticalNews.com.