Thermoluminescence and kinetic parameters of synthesised BaAl2O4(Dy) phosphor irradiated with gamma and mega-voltage radiation

Dy doped BaAl2O4 powder sample was successfully synthesised by urea assisted combustion synthesis route. Post preparation calcination was done at 700 °C for 1 h. The formation of compound was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD).The estimated particle size was found to be ∼30.51 nm by using Debye Scherer's formula. The high-resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph shows the presence of several micro and nano-particles within the grain. Thermal behaviour of prepared powder sample was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It has been confirmed that the prepared phosphor was thermally stable up to 800 °C. Thermoluminescence (TL) analysis of prepared sample was carried out after the irradiation with Co-60 gamma rays, 6-mega voltage (MV) and 16 MV photon beams. Glow curves of the prepared BaAl2O4 (Dy:1%) sample were similar in shape irrespective of incident energy and radiation type. The low and high intensity peak in each curve was appeared at around 108 °C and 305 °C, respectively. No appreciable shift in peak positions has been observed. The trapping parameters, namely activation energy (E), order of kinetics (b) and frequency factor (s) have been determined using glow curve shape (Chen's) method. The activation energy as well as frequency factor increases with increase in the energy of incident radiation. Energy dependence has been observed in the present phosphor due to Compton's scattering, dominates at this energy range. It has been observed that peak of each glow curves of the sample irradiated with gamma and mega-voltage photons, lies within ±5 °C. This phosphor can be utilised for display technology as well as radiation dosimetry, especially where the need for tissue equivalent material is not a constraint. Low cost, less time consuming and high yield are some important key factors of this method over other synthesis techniques.