Elemental Fluctuation in Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce Crystals Imposed by Li+ and Mg2+ Co-Doping: The Impact on Defects, Luminescence, and Scintillation Properties

This research revealed the response of Ga and Al sublattices to incorporation mismatching substituents in Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce single crystals. Incompatible size charge, Li+ Mg2+ violated configurational entropy. led lattice distortion triggered structural rearrangements. The radial fluctuation elements was proven by multi-elemental energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping elemental composition analysis. Further evidence observed shift exciton creation energy toward higher vacuum ultraviolet excitation spectra recorded with synchrotron radiation. In co-doped samples, crystal core depleted atoms enriched elements. rim showed opposite behavior. change thermoluminescence peak positions a different mechanism for formation localized traps. As result, co-doping slightly improved light yield value, but at same time decelerated scintillation decay time. On contrary, markedly diminished parameters.