gadoliniumdoped

Gadolinium-doped refers to a class of materials in which gadolinium ions (Gd3+) are incorporated into a host lattice as dopants to modify optical, magnetic, or scintillation properties. The dopant concentration is typically given as a molar fraction and depends on the host and purpose. In solids, Gd3+ is commonly substituted for trivalent cations in oxide, fluoride, or silicate hosts.

Common host matrices include oxides such as Y2O3, Lu2O3, and YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet), fluorides such as NaYF4, and silicates or phosphates such as SiO2 and LaPO4. Gadolinium can act as a sensitizer or activator, often in combination with other lanthanide ions (for example Eu3+, Tb3+) to produce visible emissions, or on its own to exhibit sharp 4f-4f transitions in the UV to visible range. Gd3+ also has a high neutron capture cross section, which underpins its use in certain scintillators and neutron detectors.

Synthesis methods include solid-state reactions, sol-gel processing, hydrothermal growth, and thin-film deposition techniques such as chemical vapor deposition or sputtering. Doping modifies the lattice and phonon environment, affecting luminescence efficiency and energy transfer.

Applications: Gadolinium-doped materials are used in phosphors for LEDs and displays, upconversion materials for bio-imaging, scintillators for medical and high-energy physics instrumentation, and neutron-detection devices. Gadolinium-doped crystals like Gd2SiO5:Ce are notable examples.

Safety: Gadolinium compounds can be toxic in soluble form; in medical imaging, Gd3+ is administered as chelated complexes to limit toxicity. In solid hosts, the material is generally passive unless it dissolves or degrades.