3+

Tb Doped Silicoborate Glass Scintillator for High

Resolution Synchrotron X-Rays Imaging Application
Intachai1, S. Kothan1*, N. Wantana2,3,
1Center
N. of Radiation Research and Medical Imaging, Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
2Physics Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand

F. Khrongchaiyapum2,3, S. Kaewjaeng1, 3Center of Excellence in Glass Technology and Materials Science (CEGM), Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand
4Synchrotron Research and Applications Division, Synchrotron Light Research Institute, 111 University Avenue, Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand

P. Pakawanit4, N. Vittayakorn5, 5Advanced Materials Research Unit, School of Science, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
6School of Materials Science and Innovation, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
P. Kanjanaboos6, N. Phuphathanaphong6, 7Department of Physics, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea

H.J. Kim7, and J. Kaewkhao2,3**

*Email: suchart.kothan@cmu.ac.th, **Email: jakrapong@webmail.npru.ac.th

ABSTRACT • Cutting and polishing in the dimension of 1x1.5x0.3 cm3 Table. 1 Experimental PLQY of xTb:7.5Gd glasses under λEx= 378 nm.
Experimental PLQY (%)
The silicoborate glass doped with different amounts of Tb3+ in the Emission Wavelength (nm)
composition of xTb2O3 — 7.5Gd2O3 — 40Na2O — 5SiO2 — (47.5- Glass
470-510 530-560 570-605 610-635 400-650
x)B2O3 where varying Tb2O3 from 0, 1, 2, and 3 mol%. The 1Tb:7.5Gd 3.77 9.54 2.98 1.95 22.65
xTb:7.5Gd glasses were prepared by conventional melt 2Tb:7.5Gd 4.21 12.62 3.70 2.45 26.79
quenching technique and studied characterization of each 0Tb:7.5Gd 1Tb:7.5Gd 2Tb:7.5Gd 3Tb:7.5Gd 3Tb:7.5Gd 4.52 15.63 4.55 3.06 30.85
property. The density and molar volume increase with increasing
Tb2O3. Fourier transform Infrared spectra (FTIR) results point out (x=0.306, y=0.593); λEx = 228 nm
1
1Tb:7.5Gd; 2.586 ms

• Characterization
(x=0.312, y=0.590); λEx = 275 nm

that the majority of the BO3 borate group. The xTb:7.5Gd glasses (x=0.312, y=0.593); λEx = 378 nm 2Tb:7.5Gd; 2.545 ms
3Tb:7.5Gd; 2.418 ms

Normalized intensity (a.u.)

lEx= 378 nm, lEm= 544 nm
absorbed photons in UV-visible and near-infrared regions. The ▪ Physical properties ▪ Luminescence properties 0Tb:7.5Gd

results of photoluminescence and X-ray induced luminescence ➢ Density ➢ Photoluminescence (PL)

1Tb:7.5Gd

reveal significant emission occurring at 544 nm (5D4→7F5). The 2Tb:7.5Gd

photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 3Tb:7.5Gd glass ➢ Molar volume → Excitation, Emission 3Tb:7.5Gd
0.1

shows the highest value at 30.85%. The scintillation efficiency of ▪ Optical properties spectra, Decay curve and
3Tb:7.5Gd glass was 109% of bismuth germanate (BGO) crystal. ▪ X-ray imaging Quantum Yield
CIE chromaticity of xTb:7.5Gd glasses shows the color ➢ X-ray excitation spectra 0 2 4 6 8 10

➢ CIE chromaticity
Time (ms)
coordinates in green region. The decay time owing to Tb3+ Fig.10 CIE chromaticity of Fig.11 Decay curves of
emission was 2.42 ms for 3Tb:7.5Gd glass. The X-ray imaging xTb:7.5Gd glasses. xTb:7.5Gd glasses.
was studied using Synchrotron X-rays at Beamline 1.2W,
Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI), Thailand. X-ray image
was generated using developed glass with a microscopic lens
system and recorded by an sCMOS camera. The spatial
resolution of the X-ray imaging study was 10 lp/mm. These
results suggest that 3 mol% of Tb2O3 doped silicoborate glass is
capable of being a scintillation material applied in the X-ray
imaging system.

INTRODUCTION Fig.2 The schematic diagram of the X-ray imaging process at Fig.12 The 2D X-ray image (a) and the 3D reconstruction of slime (b)
BL1.2W, SLRI, Thailand. by 3Tb:7.5Gd glass as a scintillator.
• Scintillator is a material that convert X-ray into the visible RESULTS (a) (b) (c)

light. By using with a light detector such as TFT, CCD, CMOS

sensors, the image can be efficiently converted by analog to 3.02 32.4 0.4

digital converter to a digital image [1].

0Tb:7.5Gd
Density 1Tb:7.5Gd
3.00 32.2 2Tb:7.5Gd
F0, 1, 2)

Molar volume
3Tb:7.5Gd
2.98 32.0 0.3
7

F3)
Molar volume (cm3/mol)

1919 nm

7
Intensity (a.u.)

2212 nm

Visible Photons 2.96 31.8

(7F6
Density (g/cm3)

(7F6

2.94 31.6
0.2
D4)
D4)
Digital image
Scintillator

2.92 31.4
ADC
Detector

Fig.13 Line pair pattern (a) and the 2D X-ray image of line pair pattern
X-ray
484 nm (7F6
533 nm ( F6

2.90 31.2
7

at 10 lp/mm (b) and plot profile (c) of 3Tb:7.5Gd glass as a scintillator.

0.1
2.88 31.0

2.86 30.8

Object 2.84
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
30.6
0.0
400 800 1600
Wavelength (nm)
2000 2400
CONCLUSIONS
Tb2O3 concentration

Fig.1 The schematic diagram of the Radiography. Fig.3 Density and Molar Volume of • The physical properties as density and molar volume which
Fig.4 Absorption spectra of
xTb:7.5Gd glasses. tends to increase with increasing Tb2O3 concentrations,
xTB:7.5Gd glasses.
• Glass materials are the great alternative for replacing corresponding to the larger of non-bridging oxygen.
crystal scintillator because of their... • The absorption spectra of Tb3+- doped glass shows in UV-
✓ Ease of production; case to variety size and shape Vis and NIR regions.
✓ Low cost • In 3.0 mol% of Tb2O3 doped silicoborate glass, the
✓ Chemically stable and nonhygroscopic strongest emission of Tb3+ is at 544 nm (5D4→7F5), which is
✓ Performance can be tuned by compositional changes applicable to all excitations.
• The CIE chromaticity coordinates of the 3Tb:7.5Gd glass
• The addition of SiO2 into B2O3 glasses resulted in the under 228, 275, and 378 nm excitations, which were in the
creation of silicoborate glasses which has the ability of yellow-green region.
thermal resistance and higher chemical durability [2]. • The finding of this research points out that the 3 mol% of
Fig.5 Excitation spectra of xTb:7.5Gd Fig.6 Emission spectra of xTb:7.5Gd Tb3+ ions doped silicoborate glass accomplished for high
• The trivalent terbium ions (Tb3+)
were selected for doping glasses under λEx = 228 nm.
in silicoborate glasses due to the 4f6 electronic structure of glasses under λEm = 544 nm. resolution synchrotron X-rays imaging application, which
Tb3+, which results in the characteristic green confirmed by the 2D X-ray image and the 3D reconstruction
photoluminescence (PL) [3]. and spatial resolution at 10 lp/mm.
• To confirm its ability to be a glass scintillator, a ACKNOWLEDGMENT
synchrotron light source was used to generate X-ray
beams in the X-ray imaging process. N. Intachai has received the TA/RA Scholarship from the
Graduate School, Chiang Mai University. This research project
EXPERIMENTS was supported by Fundamental Fund 2024, Chiang Mai
University. This research work was partially supported by Chiang
• Preparation with the composition of xTb2O3 — 40Na2O — Mai University. Furthermore, this was funded by the National
7.5Gd2O3 — 5SiO2 — (47.5-x)B2O3 where x ranging in 0, 1, 2, Fig.7 Emission spectra of xTb:7.5Gd glasses under Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) under Research Grants for
and 3 mol%. Chemical powders were mixed finely ground λEx = 275 nm (a) and 378 nm (b). Talented Mid-Career Researchers Project (Project number
using mortar and pestle and put in an alumina crucible. N41A640097). The authors also thank Thailand Science Research
0.0012
3Tb:7.5Gd 3Tb:7.5Gd
and Innovation (TSRI) for partially supporting this research.
BGO
0.0010

0.0008 REFERENCES
Intensity (a.u.)

BGO

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