Patent ID: 8872119

Claim:
A method of producing a free-standing ceramic scintillator body, the method comprising: preparing a precursor solution including a rare earth element precursor, a hafnium precursor and an activator (Ac) precursor; obtaining a precipitate from the solution using a precipitating agent including oxalic acid and ammonium hydroxide; calcining the precipitate to obtain a polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material including a rare earth hafnate doped with the activator and having a cation-deficient perovskite structure that includes hexagonal stacking of layers; and pressing the polycrystalline ceramic scintillating material; and forming a free standing ceramic scintillator body, wherein the free standing ceramic scintillator body has a density of greater than 98% of theoretical density; and an optical transmittance of greater than 50% total transmission at a thickness that stops greater than 98% of x-ray at a wavelength of maximum emission.