Abstract: The single crystals of KCaCl₃:Ce doped with different mole fraction of Ce³⁺ ion concentrations(1%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%) were successfully grown by Bridgman method. The crystals belong to orthorhombic system, the cell parameters have been determined as: a=0.756 0 nm, b=1.048 2 nm, c=0.726 6 nm. The melting point measured by the thermogravimetric analyzer are 740 ℃. The photoluminescence spectrum, decay time, X-ray excitation emission spectrum and optical transmittance were characterized. The transmittance shows it has good optical transmittance in visible band. The photoluminescence spectra of KCaCl₃:Ce exhibit the two broad emission peaks locate at 358 nm and 378 nm, corresponding to Ce³⁺5d₁→²F_5/2 and 5d₁→²F_7/2 energy level transition; the scintillating decay time of the KCaCl₃:Ce is about 30 ns under ultraviolet excitation. Moreover, all crystals exhibit excellent X-ray liminescence properties under X-ray excitation.

Key words: KCaCl₃:Ce, Bridgman method, scintillation crystal, photoluminescence, decay time, X-ray luminescence