Identification of defect centers responsible for thermoluminescence emission in sol-gel synthesized calcium silicate phosphor.

The thermoluminescence (TL) of calcium silicate phosphor (CSO) prepared by the sol-gel method and sintered at 1200 °C were investigated. From Tm-Tstop curve, TL emission spectrum and computer deconvolution using electron traps with discrete and continuous distributions, the glow curves were found to be composed of four TL peaks (117, 190, 250 and 275 °C) with a single emission band centered at 370 nm. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigation has been carried out to identify the defect centers formed in the CSO phosphor by γ-irradiation and find the centers related to the TL process in the phosphor. At room temperature, three defect centers were observed. The first center, characterized by the principal g-values of 2.014, 2.011, and 2.0080 was assigned to an O- ion. The second center with g-values 2.015, 2.013, and 2.010 is also attributed to an O- ion and is associated with the TL peak at 280 °C. The third center, with an isotropic g-value of 2.0011 was identified as the F+ center (singly ionized oxygen vacancy) and relates to the TL peak at 280 °C.

Dating of carbonate covering cave paintings at peruaçu, Brazil by TL and EPR methods.

In the present work, carbonate samples covering wall painting of four points in the same site found at Peruaçu National Park in the extreme northwest of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, has been investigated and dated by thermoluminescence (TL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. The EPR spectrum of the carbonate samples presented the typical six signals due to Mn2+ ion and signals around g~2.0 due to SO2- and CO2-. The thermal stability and dose response of the EPR signals were found to be suitable for an age determination using the center due to CO2-. The carbonate sample exhibits TL peaks at approximately 350 °C. TL and EPR dating of the carbonate samples that covered the cave paintings gave an age of 33.13 to 48.40 ka. This series of dating data indicate that in the region about 220-250 km from the coast and extending from the State of Piaui, Bahia to Minas Gerais people lived around 50000 years ago.

Synthesis, thermoluminescence, defect center and dosimetric characteristics of LiF:Mg,Cu,P,Si phosphor.

LiF:Mg,Cu,P,Si (MCPS), a new tissue equivalent phosphor, was synthesized by solid state method. Powder x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope were employed to determine the structural features. The dosimetric characteristics, electron spin resonance (ESR) and defect centers of this newly prepared phosphor were investigated. The MCPS phosphor is highly sensitive when compared with LiF:Mg,Ti and LiF:Mg,Cu,P (MCP), with the TL sensitivity being 35 times and 1.3 times higher respectively. The dosimetric peak occurs at 220°C with a well defined glow curve structure similar to MCP. MCPS phosphor shows a linear dose response till 10Gy. The minimum detectable dose has been found to be 8µGy. The thermal stability of the phosphor could be enhanced by 20°C from 240°C to 260°C when compared to MCP. Defect centers formed in the phosphor by gamma irradiation have been studied by ESR to identify the centers associated with the TL process in this phosphor. Thermal annealing experiments reveal the presence of several defect centers. Center I which shows an isotropic g factor of 2.0233 has been found to relate with the TL peaks at 160°C, 220°C and 265°C. Centers II and III are characterized by isotropic g values of 2.0096 and 2.0019 respectively and are attributed to F centers.

Dating stalagmite from Caverna do Diabo (Devil´S Cave) by TL and EPR techniques.

A cylindrical fragment of stalagmite from Caverna do Diabo, State of São Paulo, Brazil, has been studied and dated by thermoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. The thermoluminescence glow curves of stalagmite samples and subsequently gamma irradiated, have shown rise of three peaks at 135, 180 and 265 °C. From electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of stalagmite was possible to clearly identify three paramagnetic centers in the g = 2.0 region: Centers I, II and III are due to , and , respectively. The additive method was applied to calculate the accumulated dose using thermoluminescence peak at 265 °C and the electron paramagnetic resonance signal at g = 1.9973 of CO- 2 radical. The ages of the different slices of stalagmite were determined from the Dac- values and Dan- value, obtaining an average of 86410 for central slice, 53421 for second slice, 31490 for third slice and 46390 years B.P. for the central region of upper end.

Synthesis, thermoluminescence, defect centers and dosimetric characteristics of LiF:Mg,Cu,B phosphor.

The present paper reports the thermoluminescence (TL), dosimetric characteristics and electron spin resonance (ESR) of LiF: Mg, Cu,B (MCB) phosphor synthesized by a solid state method. Its glow curve structure is similar to that of LiF: Mg, Cu,P (MCP) phosphor with the main dosimetric peak at 218°C. MCB is 12 times more sensitive than LiF: Mg, Ti and about 1.9 times less sensitive than MCP phosphor. A noteworthy feature is that the phosphor exhibits a linear dose response up to 100Gy with a minimum detectable dose of 17µGy. The TL emission spectrum was recorded and the post irradiation fading in MCB at ambient temperatures and humidity was negligible for a period of one month. Room temperature ESR spectrum of irradiated phosphor consists of at least two distinct centers. Center I with an isotropic g factor 2.0061 is attributable to an F-center and is the likely recombination center for the main TL peak at 220°C. Center II characterized by a g-factor 2.0090 and an unusual broad line (linewidth ~ 415G) is also identified as an F-center. A third defect center, observable during thermal annealing at high temperature, is assigned to another F-center.

Thermoluminescence, OSL and defect centers in Tb doped magnesium orthosilicate phosphor.

Mg2SiO4:Tb phosphor exhibits four thermoluminescence (TL) peaks at 124, 244, 300 and 370°C for a heating rate of 2°C/s, 244°C peak being the main dosimetry peak. The irradiated phosphor exhibits CW-OSL response on stimulation with blue (470nm) light. Thermal decay of OSL shows that all the TL traps contribute to CW-OSL signal. Its TL and OSL sensitivities are 0.21 and 0.038, respectively, than that of Al2O3:C (Landauer Inc.). Its CW-OSL response increases linearly up to 30Gy, thereafter increase was supralinear up to the studied dose of 1000Gy. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) studies were carried out to study the defect centers induced in the phosphor by gamma irradiation and also to identify the centers responsible for the TL process. Room temperature ESR spectrum of irradiated phosphor appears to be a superposition of at least three distinct centers. One of the centers (center I) with an isotropic g-factor 2.0122 is attributable to an intrinsic O(-) radical and this correlates with the main TL peak at 244°C. Center II with an isotropic g-factor 2.0012 is assigned to an F(+)-center (singly ionized oxygen vacancy) and is the likely recombination center for all the TL peaks. Both the centers grow with radiation dose at least up to 1 kGy. Center III with an axial symmetric g-tensor with principal g-values g||=2.0049 and g⊥=2.0029 is identified as an F(+)-center and is not related to the observed TL peaks in the phosphor.

Electron paramagnetic resonance and photoluminescence investigation on ultraviolet-emitting gadolinium-ion-doped CaAl12O19 phosphors.

The gadolinium doped CaAl12O19 phosphor has been prepared by a low temperature solution combustion method in a short time and characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive analysis of X-ray mapping, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and photoluminescence spectroscopic techniques. EPR and optical analysis of the sample confirm the presence of Gd(3+) in the CaAl12O19 matrix.

Synthesis, characterization, luminescence and defect centres in CaYAl3O7:Eu3+ red phosphor.

CaYAl(3)O(7):Eu(3+) phosphor was prepared at furnace temperatures as low as 550°C by a solution combustion method. The formation of crystalline CaYAl(3)O(7):Eu(3+) was confirmed by powder X-Ray diffraction pattern. The prepared phosphor was characterized by SEM, FT-IR and photoluminescence techniques. Photoluminescence measurements indicated that emission spectrum is dominated by the red peak located at 618 nm due to the (5)D(0)-(7)F(2) electric dipole transition of Eu(3+) ions. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) studies were carried out to identify the centres responsible for the thermoluminescence (TL) peaks. Room temperature ESR spectrum of irradiated phosphor appears to be a superposition of two distinct centres. One of the centres (centre I) with principal g-value 2.0126 is identified as an O(-) ion while centre II with an isotropic g-factor 2.0060 is assigned to an F(+) centre (singly ionized oxygen vacancy). An additional defect centre is observed during thermal annealing experiments and this centre (assigned to F(+) centre) seems to originate from an F centre (oxygen vacancy with two electrons). The F(+) centre appears to correlate with the observed high temperature TL peak in CaYAl(3)O(7):Eu(3+) phosphor.

Synthesis and characterization of Y3+-doped TiO2 nanocomposites for photocatalytic applications.

The TiO(2).[Y(2)O(3)](x) (x = 0.1-0.4) nanocomposites (NCs) with an average particle size of 74 nm were prepared by the method of chemical co-precipitation followed by hydrolysis (CPH). Their visible light photocatalytic activity was investigated for the degradation of congo red (CR) dye. All NCs showed improved degradation as compared to the polycrystalline samples of similar compositions prepared by the solid-state reaction (SSR) route (average particle size of a few micrometers), as well as to the pure TiO(2). The better photocatalytic activity of the NCs was attributed to their smaller particle size. Another comparison of the results with those obtained with Zn(2+)/Fe(3+) ions co-doped TiO(2) NCs, under similar experimental conditions, revealed that in the Y(3+)-doped NCs, particle size might not be the only factor responsible for the improved photocatalytic properties. It was concluded that the Y(3+) ion-mediated suppression of the unwanted e(-)/h(+) recombination could be the possible factor leading to additional enhancement.

Synthesis of nanodimensional TiO2 thin films.

Nanodimensional TiO2 has wide application in the field of photocatalysis, photovoltaic and photochromic devices. In present investigation TiO2 thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition method are irradiated by 100 MeV Ag ion beam to achieve growth of nanophases. The nanostructure evolution is characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The phases of TiO2 formed after irradiation are identified by glancing angle X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The particle radius estimated by AFM varies from 10-13 nm. Anatase phase of TiO2 is formed after irradiation. The blue shift observed in UV-VIS absorption spectra indicates the nanostructure formation. The shape and size of nanoparticles formed due to high electronic excitation depend upon thickness of the film.

Defect centres and thermoluminescence in CaSO4:Dy,Ag phosphor.

The defect centres formed in the TL phosphor CaSO4:Dy,Ag are studied using the technique of Electron Spin Resonance. The Ag co-doped phosphor exhibits three glow peaks around 130, 220 and 375 degrees C in contrast with the two glow peaks observed in the CaSO4:Dy phosphor at 130 and 220 degrees C at a gamma ray dose of 1Gy. ESR studies show that the additional peak at 375 degrees C correlates with a Ag2+ centre formed due to gamma irradiation and observable only below -170 degrees C. The Ag2+ centre is characterised by an axial g-tensor with principal values g(parallel) = 2.38 and g(perpendicular) = 2.41. ESR studies further indicate that the precursor to a centre observable at low temperature (-170 degrees C) appears to act as the recombination centre for the TL peak at 375 degrees C; this radical is characterised by the g-values g(parallel) = 2.0023 and g(perpendicular) = 2.0038 and is assigned to SO3- radical. It is observed that there is more incorporation of Ag in the CaSO4:Dy system as compared with that in pure CaSO4 system.

Lyoluminescence and ESR correlation studies of trehalose dihydrate.

ESR studies of irradiated lyoluminescence (LL) phosphor, trehalose dihydrate showed a linear free radical growth up to a dose of 11 kGy. The LL output measured under oxygen equilibrated conditions showed an extension of the dosimetric response from 0.6 to 6 kGy. ESR spectral analysis indicates the formation of two radical species viz., 'a' and 'b' and their involvement in the LL process. The estimated free radical concentrations of radicals 'a' and 'b' were found to be 6.81 x 10(15) and 1.35 x 10(16) g(-1), respectively, for a gamma dose of 10.8 kGy.