Scintillator-oriented near-infrared emitting Cs4SrI6:Yb2+, Sm2+ single crystals via sensitization strategy

In this study, a new Cs4SrI6:Yb2+,Sm2+ near-infrared (NIR) emitting scintillator was developed using sensitization strategy. It was found that Yb2+ sensitization significantly enhances the NIR radioluminescence (RL) of Sm2+, providing a new approach of designing highly emissive sensitized NIR scintillators. By studying the optical spectra and decay kinetics of Cs4SrI6:Yb2+,Sm2+, it was revealed that the energy transfer pathways involve both radiative and nonradiative processes. The gamma spectroscopy performance of Cs4SrI6:Yb2+,Sm2+ single crystals was studied by using the high-quantum-efficiency avalanche photodiode (APD) as the readout. Our results highlight the importance of using sensitization strategy of achieving NIR emitting scintillators and demonstrate the significant potential for radiation detection applications.