Preparation, thermoluminescence, photoluminescence and dosimetric characteristics of LiF:Mg,Cu,P,B phosphor

Abstract

This paper presents the preparation, thermoluminescence, thermoluminescence (TL) emission, photoluminescence (PL) emission and dosimetric properties of a new LiF:Mg,Cu,P,B (MCPB) phosphor. This phosphor shows an enhanced sensitivity and is 27 times more sensitive than LiF:Mg,Ti and 1.15 times more sensitive than LiF:Mg,Cu,P (MCP). The position and shape of the glow curve of MCPB is very much similar to that of MCP, but the intensity of the main dosimetric peak increases, reaches a maximum at a concentration of about 0.025 mol% and then decreases slowly upon further addition of boron. The main dosimetric peak of the phosphor appears at 220 °C and is linear up to 10 Gy with a minimum detectable dose of about 10 μGy. MCPB phosphor can be reused up to 10 cycles at an annealing temperature of 260 °C for 10 min without loss in TL sensitivity. MCPB exhibits a very low residual signal (0.42 %) when compared to that of GR-200A and GR-200P reported in the literature. The structural and morphological characteristics of the phosphor have been studied using X-ray diffraction method and scanning electron microscope. Both the TL and PL emission spectrum are recorded and analyzed. The various other dosimetric properties like annealing temperature, fading, reusability and residual signal are also presented in this study.