Radiation-induced Y2O3:Eu phosphor: thermoluminescence characterization and trapping parameter investigations

Abstract

In this study, a series of Y₂O₃:Eu phosphors with varying concentrations of europium (Eu) were synthesized using the solid-state reaction method. The prepared materials underwent comprehensive characterization through multiple techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermoluminescence (TL) analysis. The XRD data were subjected to Rietveld refinement to investigate phase formation and structural properties. The thermoluminescent properties of the synthesized phosphors were assessed by subjecting the samples to different excitation sources, namely gamma rays, carbon ion beams, and oxygen ion beams. The results indicated that the Y₂O₃:Eu phosphor exposed to gamma rays exhibited the highest TL emission intensity when the Eu concentration was at 0.5 mol%. Conversely, the Y₂O₃:Eu phosphor exposed to carbon ion and oxygen ion beams displayed the highest TL emission intensity at a lower Eu concentration of 0.3 mol%. The analysis of traps involved in material was deconvolute the glow curves using Glow Curve Deconvolution (GCD) method. Additionally, trapping parameters were calculated using the GCD method, Chen's peak shape analysis, and the Initial Rise method. The findings of this investigation suggest that the prepared Y₂O₃:Eu phosphors hold significant potential for future research in dosimetry applications.