Resilient high-temperature UV radioluminescence from Gd³⁺ in barium phosphate glass

The radioluminescence (RL) of glasses with 50P₂O₅-(50 – x)BaO-xGd₂O₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 5 mol%) compositions was evaluated under continuous X-ray excitation at 19 different temperatures within 26–384 °C. While the barium phosphate host showed no significant RL, the ultraviolet emission of Gd³⁺was observed to continuously increase with Gd³⁺ concentration at any given temperature. Withstanding thermal quenching effects, significant Gd³⁺RL remained even at 384 °C with all glasses retaining from 52% to ∼70% of the respective room temperature intensity, increasing with Gd³⁺ concentration. The results show that high Gd³⁺concentrations are beneficial in terms of luminosity, and that significant relative luminosity can be obtained even at high temperatures.