Thermoluminescence (TL) of europium-doped ZrO2 obtained by sol–gel method

Abstract

This article reports the preparation and characterization of europium-doped zirconium oxide (ZrO2:Eu3+) formed by homogeneous precipitation from propoxyde of zirconium [Zr(OC3H7)4]. The alkoxide sol gel process is an efficient method to prepare the zirconium oxide matrix by the hydrolysis of alkoxide precursors followed by condensation to yield a polymeric oxo-bridged ZrO2 network. All compounds were characterized by thermal analysis and the X-ray diffractometry method. The thermoluminescence (TL) emission properties of ZrO2:Eu3+ under beta radiation effects are studied. The europium-doped sintered zirconia powder presents a TL glow curve with two peaks (Tmax) centered at around 204 and around 292 °C, respectively. TL response of ZrO2:Eu3+ as a function of beta-absorbed dose was linear from 2 Gy up to 90 Gy. The europium ion (Eu3+)-doped ZrO2 was found to be more sensitive to beta radiation than undoped ZrO2 obtained by the same method and presented a little fading of the TL signal compared with undoped zirconium oxide.