Fabrication and Properties of Translucent SrI$_2$ and Eu:SrI$_2$ Scintillator Ceramics

Preparation of SrI
₂
and Eu:SrI
₂
ceramics is reported on for the first time. Translucent ceramics were sintered by hot-pressing. Thermal analysis on SrI
₂
and EuI
₂
starting powders was used to identify dehydration temperatures and informed the choice of sintering conditions. Optical transmission was found to decrease with increasing temperature and time. Microstructure studies (grain size and texture) were used to evaluate variations in optical transmission between samples. Scintillation characterization was carried out on 5 wt% Eu:SrI
₂
ceramics. X-ray radio-luminescence spectra showed both the characteristic Eu
²⁺
emission band and a lower-intensity, broad emission in the visible. Scintillation lifetimes were shorter than those previously reported for single-crystal samples, and afterglow was substantially lower. A light yield of 21 000 ph/MeV was calculated from the photopeaks under γ-irradiation. Like single-crystal samples, Eu:SrI
₂
ceramics were found to have a very proportional response with γ -ray energy.