Study of luminescence and effect of Dy3+ on NaMgSO4 Cl:Ce chlorosulphate phosphor.

Chlorosulphate NaMgSO4 Cl phosphor doped with Ce(3+) and co-doped by Dy(3+) prepared by the wet chemical method was studied for its photoluminescence and thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics. The emission spectrum of Ce(3+) shows dominant peaks at 346 nm (excitation 270 nm) due to 5d → 4f transition. Efficient energy transfer occurs from Ce(3+) → Dy(3+) ions. Dy(3+) emission at 485 nm and 576 nm is due to (4) F9/2 → (6) H15/2 and (4) F9/2 → (6) H13/2 transitions of Dy(3+) ion respectively. The TL glow curves of NaMgSO4 Cl:Ce and Ce,Dy have been recorded for various concentrations at a heating rate of 2 °C/s irradiated by γ-rays at a dose rate of 0.995 kGy/h for 1 Gy, which peaks at about 241 °C and 247-312 °C respectively. Further, in changing the concentration level, the general structure of the intensity is found to increase. The main property of this phosphor is its sensitivity even for low concentrations of rare earth ions and low γ-ray dose. There is still scope for higher doses of γ-radiation. The phosphor presented may be used as a lamp phosphor as well as for TL studies.