Thermoluminescence glow curve analysis of gamma irradiated Sr2SiO4: Dy3+ nanophosphor

Undoped and Dy3+ doped nanocrystalline Sr2SiO4 phosphor was synthesised by solution combustion technique. The phosphors were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermoluminescence (TL) of pure and Dy3+ doped Sr2SiO4 nanophosphors irradiated with gamma rays were measured at room temperature. The effect of dopant and heating rate on TL glow curves were investigated. The dose response curve exhibit sub-linear nature, in the dose range 0.3 kGy-4 kGy. The optimised sample with 1 mol % Dy3+ ions exposed to gamma dose of 8 kGy was de-convoluted to obtain different TL kinetic parameters using general order kinetics by computerised glow curve de-convolution (CGCD) technique. The obtained values of activation energies (E) and frequency factor (s) were in the range 1.05-1.30 eV and 10(10) - 10(12) s(-1). The kinetic parameters calculated were further compared with Chen, Grossweiner and Lushchik peak shape methods. TL emission (TLE) exhibited the characteristic Dy3+ transitions. Thus, the results reveal that the phosphors may be a suitable candidate for white light emission and further can also be used for dosimetry in the irradiation of food products.