Characterization of Ag and Dy incorporated Alq3 nanocomposite sheets for potential radiation dosimetry applications

Abstract

Tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) is a highly light emitting metal complex with applications in several electronics devices including photodiodes, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), and display technologies. Despite these unique optical properties and applications, no study investigated its response to neutron and beta radiation, particularly in its nanocomposite form. In this work, we synthesized Alq3 nanocomposite sheets based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer for potential radiation dosimetry applications. The sheets were synthesized using PMMA as a proper binder and surfactant agent controlling the Alq3 nanostructure formation. These resultant sheets revealed uniform nanoparticles in the sheets having Alq3 powder similarly Alq3/Dy sheets showed uniform nanoparticles with shiny surrounding and dark spots at the center. While Alq3/Ag indicated a periodic hexagonal colloidal array instead of nanoparticles which may be attributed to the partial interaction between the Alq3/Ag powder with PMMA polymer. The structural and optical properties of the sheets were further investigated using different techniques. Furthermore, these sheets were subjected to different doses of neutron and beta radiation ranging from 100 to 1000 mGy. The irradiated sheets indicated an approximately excellent linear dose response-based Raman, FTIR and PL signals dose variations, implying induced defects, cross-linking and chain scission. Additionally, beta irradiation induced shifts in the PL emission position indicating strong damage besides signal changes. The signal variations derived from the irradiated nanocomposite sheets in addition to PL emission stability and reproducibility suggest the potential applications of these sheets in radiation dosimetry and other future optoelectronic devices.