Impurities in zone-refining anthracene crystals

Over the past five decades, paramount interest had been given to the synthesis of single crystals for use as scintillators in nuclear radiation detection field. Organic semiconductors are in principle less costly and of light weight, providing real potential as improved radiation detectors. However,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of crystal growth 2013-01, Vol.363, p.61-68
Main Authors: Hong, Irvine Huamin, Jie Tan, Ke, Toh, Minglin, Jiang, Hui, Zhang, Keke, Kloc, Christian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
A1. Defects
A1. Impurities
A1. Purification
A2. Single crystal growth
Anthracene
Applied sciences
Atomic force microscopy
B1. Aromatic compounds
B2. Scintillator materials
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Crystal growth
Crystals
Electronics
Exact sciences and technology
Growth from melts
zone melting and refining
Impurities
Materials
Materials science
Methods of crystal growth
physics of crystal growth
Nuclear radiation
Physics
Single crystals
Weight reduction
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Summary:Over the past five decades, paramount interest had been given to the synthesis of single crystals for use as scintillators in nuclear radiation detection field. Organic semiconductors are in principle less costly and of light weight, providing real potential as improved radiation detectors. However, challenges remain in the crystal growth and purification of the neutron detection material whereby the residual impurity will result in formation of excitation trap quenching the light yield within the host crystal. In this study, single crystals of anthracene up to 10cm had been grown from the melt based on a self-designed, inexpensive and versatile zone refining apparatus. Platelets cut from these crystals by applying wire saw were tested for purity and perfection by Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (LDI-ToF MS), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence measurement. The results of characterization studies revealed that impurities within commercial anthracene powder such as carbazole and 9,9′bianthryl have been reduced effectively as indicated by LDI-ToF MS analysis. Meanwhile the photoluminescence analysis had clearly demonstrated higher photon energies derived from the pure crystal as compared to those of commercial material with higher content of impurities where free excitons during their localization surrender part of its energy to the surroundings. ► Organic single crystals for use as scintillators in nuclear radiation detection. ► Anthracene single crystals growth by zone refining (melting) for the melt. ► Purity of anthracene single crystals. ► Organic impurity removal by vertical zone melting. ► Apparatus development and design for vertical zone melting and crystallization.
ISSN:0022-0248
1873-5002
DOI:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2012.10.002