Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A composition comprising an inorganic scintillator comprising an alkali metal hafnate, cerium-doped, having the formula A2HfO3:Ce; wherein the A is Na, and the molar percent of cerium is 0.1% to 90%. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the molar percent of cerium is 0.1% to 10%. 3. A composition consisting essentially of a mixture of an alkali metal carbonate, oxide or hydroxide, cerium oxide, and hafnium oxide, wherein the alkali metal is Na, and the molar percent of cerium is from 0.1% to 90%. 4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the mixture consists essentially of solid alkali carbonate, oxide or hydroxide, and solid hafnium oxide, and solid cerium oxide, wherein the mixture has a stoichiometry of about 2 alkali metal atoms: about 1 hafnium atom. 5. The composition of claim 4, wherein (i) the solid alkali metal carbonate, oxide or hydroxide is Na2CO3, and (ii) the cerium oxide is Ce2O3. 6. The composition of claim 4, wherein the solid alkali carbonate, oxide or hydroxide, and solid hafnium oxide, and solid cerium oxide are powdered crystals. 7. The composition of claim 3, wherein the molar percent of cerium is 0.1% to 10%. 8. A method for producing the composition comprising an inorganic scintillator comprising:a. providing the composition of claim 3,b. heating the mixture so that the salts or solids start to react, andc. cooling the mixture of the formed composition to room temperature such that the inorganic scintillator is formed. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mixture consists essentially of solid alkali metal carbonate, oxide or hydroxide, and solid hafnium oxide, and solid cerium oxide, wherein the mixture has a stoichiometry of about 2 alkali metal atoms: about 1 hafnium atom. 10. A device comprising the composition of claim 1.