The Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) of wide band gap oxides activated by rare-earth ions with fast and efficient broad band UV emission opens new possibilities for development of thin-film scintillators and screens for visualization of invisible images from biological objects. The Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺ ions were considered for such application, and the latter is the less studied one. In 2005, at LOM Lviv National University as well as at SUPERLUMI station in HASYLAB, DESY, Hamburg we started a new program of growth and investigation of Pr³⁺ luminescence using the synchrotron radiation excitation in scintillators based on single crystal (SC) and single crystalline film (SCF) of garnet and perovskite compounds.

Pr-doped LuAG, YAG, LuAP and YAP SCF were grown by LPE from melt-solution (MS) based on Pb-B₂O flux on the YAG (garnets) and YAP (perovskites) substrates. The Pr₂O₃ concentration in MS was varied in a range of 1.1-10.5 mol % for determination of the maximum of light yield (LY) under excitation by α-particles of Pu²³⁹ sources. Some samples were additionally co-doped with Ce³⁺ for study of the Pr³⁺→Ce³⁺ energy transfer. The comparison with LuAG:Pr and YAP:Pr bulk SC analogues was performed as well.

The following main features of Pr³⁺ ion luminescence in SCF and SC of garnets and perovskites it is considered: (i) excitation energy transfer between d-f states and ratio of the d-f and f-f emission intensities; (ii) dependence of the d-f and f-f- luminescence intensity on the activator concentration; (iii) influence of Lu_Al and Y_Al AD on the luminescence and energy transfer in LuAG and YAG SC; (iv) excitation energy transfer between Pr³⁺ and Ce³⁺ centres.

It has been also considered the possibilities of application of the LuAG:Pr and YAG:Pr SCF as thin film UV scintillators for α- and β-particles monitoring as well as LuAP:Pr and YAP:Pr SCF as luminescent ligth sources in a range of 250-260 nm for visualization of invisible images.

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1. ZnWO₄ films obtained by ion–beam sputtering and hydrothermal method