Yttrium-doped barium fluoride crystal and preparation method and use thereof

A method for preparing an yttrium-doped barium fluoride scintillation crystal having a chemical composition of Ba(1−x)YxF2+x, wherein 0.01≤x≤0.50, and the method comprises the steps of:

• weighing and mixing raw materials of YF3 and BaF2 according to the molar ratio BaF2:YF3=(1−x):
• x to obtain a mixed powder, wherein 0.01≤x≤0.50;
• putting the mixed raw materials into crucibles in a vacuum furnace for thorough melting at a temperature of 1200 to 1400° C., and then cooling the mixture to obtain Ba(1−x)YxF2+x polycrystalline material, or subjecting the mixed powder to isostatic pressing, and putting the resulting substance into crucibles and sintering it at 900 to 1200° C. in vacuum to obtain sintered Ba(1−x)YxF2+x polycrystalline material;
• and
• mixing the resulting polycrystalline material with an appropriate amount of PbF2 powder, which is act as a deoxidizer, and growing crystals by vertical Bridgman method;
• wherein the processes of the vertical Bridgman method include:
• maintaining the furnace in a vacuum degree of less than 10−3 Pa, melting the Ba(1−x)YxF2+x polycrystalline material and PbF2 powder at 1200 to 1400° C., subjecting the resulting melt to crystal growth wherein the descending speed of the crucible is 0.5 to 4 mm/hour, and cooling the grown crystal to room temperature at a temperature decreasing rate of 10 to 50° C./hour;
• wherein the deoxidizer PbF2 is added in an amount of 0.5 to 5 wt % of the Ba(1−x)YxF2+x polycrystalline material.