Scintillation Properties of Composite Films Incorporating Ce³⁺‐Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Nanoparticles in a Polystyrene Matrix

ABSTRACT This study explores the scintillation characteristics of Ce 3+ ‐doped YAG nanoparticles embedded in a polystyrene (PS) matrix. Composite films (YAG‐PS) were previously synthesized via solvent casting, varying the YAG:Ce/PS mass ratio. The scintillation light yield (SLY) was assessed using a comparative approach, where nanocomposite sample detectors were irradiated with a 137 Cs source (662 keV) and measured using an XP2020Q photomultiplier tube as the photodetector, with a NaI:Tl single‐crystal scintillator serving as the reference detector. Decay kinetics were evaluated using the Thomas and Bollinger method, while coincidence timing resolution was determined using 511 keV annihilation photons from a 22 Na source. The findings indicate a strong correlation between SLY and synthesis parameters, with an optimal yield of 23,780 ± 4700 ph/MeV achieved at a YAG/PS mass ratio of 40 wt%. Additionally, the fast decay component improved to 61 ± 1.4 ns, while coincidence timing resolution reached 674 ps, demonstrating enhanced performance for radiation detection. This study highlights the influence of YAG:Ce loading on the scintillation properties of YAG‐PS nanocomposites. These insights provide a foundation for optimizing nanocomposite scintillators in applications such as radiation detection and medical imaging.