EPR identification of defects responsible for thermoluminescence in Cu-doped lithium tetraborate (Li2B4O7) crystals

Abstract

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used to identify the electron and hole traps responsible for thermoluminescence (TL) peaks occurring near 100 and 200°C in copper-doped lithium tetraborate (Li2B4O7) crystals. As-grown crystals have Cu+ and Cu2+ ions substituting for lithium and have Cu+ ions at interstitial sites. All of the substitutional Cu2+ ions in the as-grown crystals have an adjacent lithium vacancy and give rise to a distinct EPR spectrum. Exposure to ionizing radiation at room temperature produces a second and different Cu2+ EPR spectrum when a hole is trapped by substitutional Cu+ ions that have no nearby defects. These two Cu2+ trapped-hole centers are referred to as Cu2+-VLi and Cuactive2+, respectively. Also during the irradiation, two trapped-electron centers in the form of interstitial Cu0 atoms are produced when interstitial Cu+ ions trap electrons. They are observed with EPR and are labeled CuA0 and CuB0. When an irradiated crystal is warmed from 25 to 150°C, the Cuactive2+ centers have a partial decay step that correlates with the TL peak near 100°C. The concentrations of CuA0 and CuB0 centers, however, increase as the crystal is heated through this range. As the crystal is further warmed between 150 and 250°C, the EPR signals from the Cuactive2+ hole centers and CuA0 and CuB0 electron centers decay simultaneously. This decay step correlates with the intense TL peak near 200°C.