Structural characterization, thermoluminescence and EPR studies of Nd2O3:Co2+ nanophosphors

Nd2O3:Co2+ (1–4 mol%) nanophosphors (15–25 nm) have been prepared via low temperature solution combustion method. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) shows that the product is highly porous in nature. The stokes line in the Raman spectrum at ∼2000 cm−1 is assigned to Fg mode and the anti-stokes lines are assigned to a combination of Ag + Eg modes. With increase of Co2+ concentration, the intensity of Fg mode decreases, whereas the combination of Ag + Fg modes completely disappears. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum exhibits two resonance signals with effective g values at g = 2.25 and g = 2.03. Thermoluminescence (TL) response of Nd2O3:Co2+ nanopowders with γ dose 0.23–2.05 kGy was studied. The activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s) are estimated using Chen's glow peak shape method and obtained to be in the range 0.45–1.67 eV and 1.8 × 104 to 4.0 × 1012 s−1, respectively. It is observed that the TL glow peak intensity at 430 K increases linearly with γ dose which is suitable for radiation dosimetry.

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► Nd2O3:Co2+ (1–4 mol%) nanophosphors have been prepared at much lower temperatures.
► Phosphors are well characterized by PXRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, Raman, UV–vis spectroscopy.
► EPR and thermoluminescence properties were also reported.
► TL intensity increases linearly with γ dose suggesting usage in radiation dosimetry.