Thermoluminescence properties of copper-doped TiO2 nanoparticles synthesised using co-precipitation method for high-dose gamma dosimetry.

In this work, copper (Cu)-doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation. For studying the morphological properties, the copper doped titanium dioxide (TiO2:Cu) nanocrystalline structures were characterised through powder X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The prepared TiO2:Cu nanoparticles were annealed at two temperatures, namely, copper doped titanium dioxide annealed at 723 K temperayure (TC1) and copper doped titanium dioxide annealed at 1073 K temperayure (TC2). The annealed samples were exposed to gamma radiation of 10-Gy-to-25-kGy doses. Thermoluminescence and dosimetric properties were evaluated using a thermoluminescent dosemeter reader. The glow curves of the TiO2:Cu nanoparticles were analysed. The thermoluminescence (TL) response of samples exhibited good linearity between 100 Gy and 10 kGy with high sensitivity of 1755.25 (TC1) and 5587.06 (TC2) counts g-1Gy-1 and a minimum detectable dose of 2.9666 Gy (TC1) and 0.4892 Gy (TC2). The fading of signals was observed by 12% for TC1 and 10% for TC2 samples after a week of storage.

Thermoluminescence dosimetric attributes of Yb3+ -doped BaO-ZnO-LiF-B2 O3 glass material after Er3+ co-doping.

Motivated by our previous study on Sm3+ ions as thermoluminescence (TL) sensitizers to the BaO-ZnO-LiF-B2 O3 -Yb2 O3 glass system, in the current study we examined the effect of Er3+ ion co-doping on the TL characteristics of this glass system. The 4f-4f electronic transitions of the Er3+ and Yb3+ ions were confirmed via the optical absorption spectrum. Notably, the use of Yb3+ -Er3+ ions failed to improve the TL intensity, sensitivity, and trap density. However, they enabled the glass system to function as an activator-quencher system. The linearity range and effective atomic number remained unaffected after co-doping. In addition, the problem of anomalous fading caused a remnant signal of just 58% after a week of storage of the Yb3+ monodoped glass. This was resolved by the optimum co-doping of Er3+ ions to achieve an 89% signal. The co-doping of Er3+ ions to the BaO-ZnO-LiF-B2 O3 -Yb2 O3 glass system regulated its thermal stability and therefore supplemented its potential for radiation monitoring in food processing and retrospective dosimetry.