Thermoluminescence Study of Gamma Irradiated Cr-Doped LiF Phosphors

Abstract

We have synthesized Cr-doped LiF phosphors by using modified co-precipitation. X-ray diffraction study confirms the single-phase cubic structure up to 0.05 mol.% of Cr in LiF; afterwards, a secondary phase of formation was observed. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images revealed micro-cubic surface morphology of samples. The thermoluminescent (TL) behavior of the samples studied after irradiating them with gamma rays in the dose range 0.1–30 kGy. The TL glow curve of Cr-doped LiF comprises a prominent peak observed at 407 K and a broad band ranging from 448 K to 512 K at a fixed gamma dose of 10 kGy. The shape of the TL glow curve remained similar at all concentrations of Cr in LiF; however, TL intensity was found to vary with Cr concentration, and Cr (0.02 mol.%)-doped LiF sample exhibit highest TL response. The glow curve of the optimized sample as a function of gamma irradiation dose within the range 0.1–30 kGy shows an almost linear increase in TL intensity of the main glow peak up to 10 kGy, and afterwards it decreases. Further, at the high dose of 30 kGy, the intensity of the prominent TL glow peak at 407 K decreases and another broad peak starts growing at 468 K signifying the formation of new trapping sites. The kinetic parameters, namely activation energy, order of kinetics, and frequency factor of the optimized sample were evaluated by using Chen’s peak shape method and glow curve deconvolution (GCD) functions based on Kitti's equations.