Photoluminescence and thermally stimulated luminescence properties of undoped and Tb-doped Sr3Gd(PO4)3 single crystals

Abstract

Using the floating zone method, undoped and 0.5, 1, and 5% Tb-doped Sr3Gd(PO4)3 (SGPO) single crystals were synthesized. Investigations were conducted on the photoluminescence (PL) and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) of all the SGPO single crystals. The highest PL quantum yield was shown in the 5% Tb-doped single crystal among the synthesized SGPO single crystals. The undoped SGPO single crystal displayed an emission peak in both TSL and PL at 310 nm owing to the Gd3+ 4f–4f transition. In the Tb-doped SGPO single crystals, emission peaks in PL and TSL at 310–620 nm were caused by the 4f–4f transitions of Tb3+ in addition to Gd3+. In the TSL dose response function, the 1% Tb-doped SGPO single crystal exhibited the highest TSL intensity, and the TSL signal could be detected at least 0.01 mGy.