Afterglow dosimetry performance of beta particle irradiated lithium zirconate. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hernández-Pérez, T.C.; Bernal, R.; Cruz-Vázquez, C.; Brown, F.; Mendoza-Córdova, A.; Salas-Juárez, Ch.J.; Avilés-Monreal, R.
• Is Part Of: Applied radiation and isotopes. Volume 138(2018:Aug.)
• Page Start: 2
• Page End: 5
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Li2ZrO3 -- Afterglow dosimetry -- Beta particle irradiation; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Nuclear chemistry -- Periodicals; Internet resource; Periodical; 660.298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.10.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-8043

Abstract

Abstract: In this work, we report for the very first time on the thermoluminescence (TL) and afterglow (AG) properties of Li2 ZrO3 . The ternary oxide Li2 ZrO3 was synthesized by solid state reaction of a mixture of Li2 CO3 and ZrO2 subjected to thermal annealing at 400 °C for 2 h and 1000 °C during 24 h in air. The characteristic glow curves of beta particle irradiated samples exhibit an intense TL emission located around 150 °C. From the shape of the TL curve, a 0.4 form factor was determined, suggesting that first order kinetics processes are involved. The afterglow decay curves were recorded after exposure to beta particle irradiation in the dose range from 0.5 up to 2 kGy. The AG integrated in the time interval from 510 to 600 s after radiation exposure shows a linear dependence as a function of the irradiation dose from 0.5 up to 256 Gy. A method is proposed to compute the lower detection limit and the AG sensitivity and applied to the studied phosphors. Structural and morphological characterization were carried out by X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy, respectively. From the results presented, it is concluded that the AG response of the synthesized Li2 ZrO3 presents features suitable to develop radiation detectors and dosimeters. Highlights: The afterglow dosimetry performance of ZrO2 is studied for first time. The afterglow response of ZrO2 exhibits a remarkable reproducibility in repeated irradiation – afterglow readout cycles. No pre-irradiation thermal annealing is needed to guarantee the afterglow reproducibility.