Samarium doped Ca3Y2B4O12 phosphor prepared by combustion method: Anomalous heating rate effect, dosimetric features, and TL kinetic analyses

Abstract

The structural and thermoluminescence characteristics of samarium doped Ca3Y2B4O12 samples at various concentrations are presented. The samples were synthesized via the combustion method. The thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves for Ca3Y2B4O12:Sm3+ depict strong peaks at 97 and 410 °C. Ca3Y2B4O12:Sm3+ exhibited completely opposite behavior, contrary to expectations, in that the luminescence intensity of both the total and individual glow peaks increased with the heating rate throughout the TL experiments. This unusual TL glow peak pattern was discussed via the Mandowski model of semi-localized transitions. The kinetic characteristics of both prominent glow peaks were established using various analysis techniques, including variable heating rate, initial rise (IR) by using the TM-Tstop method and the fractional glow technique (FGT), and computerized glow curve deconvolution (GCD). The dose response of the high temperature peak at 410 °C is linear between 0.1 and 5 Gy, and then sublinear at higher doses. In addition, the repeatability and fading results of 410 °C TL peak also yielded very favorable results. These findings suggest that Ca3Y2B4O12:Sm3+ has great potential in the development of high temperature dosimetric materials for beta irradiation.