Organic–inorganic detectors with Al2O3:C microcrystallites

• Detectors containing Al2O3:C microcrystallites in polymeric matrices were prepared.
• The hybrid detectors were made using polystyrene and poly(methalcrylate) matrices.
• Hybrid materials provide more possibilities in the construction of novel OSL detectors.
• Polymer matrices change the OSL readout and influence the total OSL response.
• Dose responses of investigated hybrid materials are linear in the studied range.

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) is a known phenomenon with several applications in various fields of radiation dosimetry. This phenomenon may be used for estimating dose of absorbed radiation as well as the age of archeological and geological samples. For some applications (e.g. in medicine) it would be develop detectors in the form of high-area flexible foils. This could be achieved by incorporating small grains of typical inorganic crystalline OSL phosphors into organic (polymer) matrix. In the present study we prepared samples containing Al2O3:C microcrystalline grains in polymeric matrices. Polymer matrices change the OSL readout and significantly influence the total OSL response. We observed that the dose responses of investigated hybrid materials are linear in the studied range and depend on the types of the matrix and radiation.