Gamma irradiation effects on ZnO-based scintillating glasses containing CeO₂ and/or TiO₂

Irradiation resistance of as-studied scintillating glass samples were tested under the ⁶⁰Co γ-ray radiation at doses between 60 and 700 Gy. Photoluminescence properties of glasses with and without cerium ions were investigated to show the effect of cerium (III) on the luminescence of ZnO. Ultraviolet and visible optical transmittance spectra were compared before and after irradiation treatment. The so-called radiation-induced absorption coefficient (RIAC) was introduced to compare more effectively the radiation damage on glass samples. The much reduced transmittance change and decreased RIAC value in UV–Vis region indicate that the density of electron centers and hole centers caused by radiation decreased, which helps to confirm that the reduction and oxidation reaction of cerium ions took place in radiation process. From RIAC curves, it can be seen that TiO₂ enhances the irradiation resistance of sample in UV region. However, high TiO₂ content has negative effect on visible transmittance of glasses after the higher dose irradiation (700 Gy).