Effect of thermal annealing on the thermoluminescent properties of nano-calcium fluoride and its dose-response characteristics.
Nano-CaF2, prepared by the co-precipitation method, was annealed under different annealing conditions to improve its thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics. Different annealing parameters, such as temperature (400-700°C), duration (1-4 h) and environment (vacuum and air), were explored. The effect on TL sensitivity, peak position (Tm) and full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) with respect to the different annealing conditions are discussed as they are the measure of crystallinity of the material. Annealing temperature of 500°C with annealing duration of two and a half hours in vacuum provided the highest luminescence response (i.e. maximum sensitivity, minimum peak temperature and FWHM). Wide detectable dose range (5 mGy to 2 kGy), absence of thermal quenching and sufficient activation energy (1.04 eV) of this phosphor make it suitable for dosimetric applications.
Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Technology, MS University of Baroda, Vadodara 390001, India johnsj73@gmail.com.
J K
JK
Mundupuzhakal
Department of Applied Physics, Okayama University of Science, Okayama 700-0005, Japan.
R H
RH
Biswas
Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Technology, MS University of Baroda, Vadodara 390001, India.
S
S
Chauhan
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380009, India.
V
V
Varma
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380009, India.
Y B
YB
Acharya
Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Technology, MS University of Baroda, Vadodara 390001, India.
B S
BS
Chakrabarty
D002124:Calcium Fluoride / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D049449:Luminescence; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D002124:Calcium Fluoride