Thermoluminescence Studies on Li2O-MO-B2O3 Glasses Doped with Rare Earth Ions

Abstract

Thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of X-ray irradiated pure and doped with four different rare earth ions (viz., Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺) lithium borate glasses mixed with the three different modifiers ZnO, CaO and CdO have been studied in 303-573 K. All the pure glasses have exhibited single thermoluminescence peak at 382, 424 and 466 K, respectively. When these glasses are doped with different rare earth ions no additional peaks are observed but the glow peak temperature of the existing glow peak shifted gradually towards higher temperatures with gain in intensity of thermoluminescence light output. The area under the glow curve is also found to be maximum for Eu³⁺ doped glasses. The glasses containing CdO as modifier have exhibited the maximum thermoluminescence light output. The trap depth parameters associated with the observed thermoluminescence peaks have been evaluated using Chen's formulae. The possible use of these glasses in radiation dosimetry has been described.