Scintillation characteristics of antimony based organic–inorganic hybrid compounds with a zero-dimensional structure.

Antimony based organic–inorganic hybrid compounds (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 (Ph 4 P: tetraphenylphosphonium) and (DTA) 2 SbCl 5 (DTA: dodecyltrimethylammonium) with a zero-dimensional structure were fabricated, and the optical and scintillation characteristics were evaluated. A broadband photoluminescence possibly due to self-trapped exciton (STE) emission appeared at 692 nm for (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 and 630 nm for (DTA) 2 SbCl 5 under 370 nm excitation light. The quantum yields were 98 % for (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 and 97 % for (DTA) 2 SbCl 5. Under X-ray, the broad emission peak was also detected at 670 nm for (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 and at 615 nm for (DTA) 2 SbCl 5. Furthermore, scintillation decay time constants were 4.9 μs for (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 and 5.0 μs for (DTA) 2 SbCl 5. Moreover, the scintillation light yield of (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 was estimated to be about 12,000 photons/MeV, whereas the light of (DTA) 2 SbCl 5 could not be determined. In addition, afterglow levels were 56 ppm for (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 and 130 ppm for (DTA) 2 SbCl 5. • Antimony based organic–inorganic hybrid compounds (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 and (DTA) 2 SbCl 5 were fabricated. • The compounds showed a broad emission due to self-trapped excitons with a high quantum yield. • The scintillation light yield of (Ph 4 P) 2 SbCl 5 was estimated to be about 12,000 photons/MeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]