Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Low-energy Cathodoluminescence for (Oxy)Nitride Phosphors
Published on: November 15, 2016
Scintillator light source for chemical sensing in the near-ultraviolet
S E Hobbs1, R A Potyrailo, G M Hieftje
1Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA.
Abstract:
A novel chemical sensor based on a light source composed of a radionuclide and a scintillator is experimentally evaluated. Proper selection of a radionuclide/scintillator combination permits fabrication of a practical light source emitting in the ultraviolet (UV). Such a UV light source is critical for chemical sensors which utilize UV-excitable chromophores or fluorophores. Unlike conventional gas-filled discharge lamps, the developed UV source is compact, inexpensive, simple in design, stable, and highly reliable, and it does not require an external power source. The utility of the new source was demonstrated through construction of sensors for oxygen. This application was selected for experimental evaluation of the new light source since oxygen sensors have been characterized well with conventional light sources. Although the scintillator light source is less intense than conventional sources, its excellent short- and long-term stability provides a reproducibility of fluorescence measurements of about 0.35% RSD. The stability of the scintillator light source suggests its utility in simple single-beam detection configurations.
Related Concept Videos
Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
UV–Vis Spectrometers
Photoluminescence: Applications
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Radiation and Light Sources
Two common narrow-range 'line' sources used in AAS are hollow-cathode lamps (HCLs) and...

