SAFC launches high-purity halide range

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Oct 21, 2008

SAFC Hitech has introduced a line of high-purity halides, which will enable the growth of scintillation detector crystals.

These crystals, used in energy detection devices in security, medical and astrophysical applications, will help the detection of X-rays and gamma-rays and radioactive particles for homeland security devices, X-ray and emission tomography and particle detection in high-energy physics and astronomy.

SAFC Hitech's portfolio includes several rare earth and alkali earth halides that replace or supplement traditional doped alkali halide materials used in crystal growth.

Sean Dingman, market segment manager for SAFC Hitech, said: 'The Crystal Growth Halides product line includes thallium iodide (TlI), a key activating dopant in scintillation crystal technology and high-purity sodium and cesium iodide (NaI and CsI), providing a one-stop service for key crystal growth materials.' Dr Geoff Irvine, director of commercial development and marketing at SAFC Hitech, said: 'With our new high-purity halides, we are reinforcing our offer with value-add services designed to improve our customers' throughput, reduce total cost of ownership and address environmental concerns.

'SAFC Hitech can blend halide compositions, package materials to customisable customer specifications and provide a reprocessing service to remove off-cut thallium doped material and repurify the materials.

'We anticipate an increase in demand for rare earth halides as the technology for crystal growth continues to improve.

'For example, in radioactive isotope identification devices (RIIDs), which are hand-held security detectors, cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3:Ce) shows a higher resolution of several radioactive isotopes and detects these materials more efficiently than thallium doped sodium iodide.' SAFC Hitech is offering lanthanum and cerium bromides (LaBr3 and CeBr3); barium, strontium and europium halides; and thallium, sodium and cesium iodides as part of its Crystal Growth Halides product offer.