Thermoluminescence dosimetry features of DY and Cu doped SrF2 nanoparticles under gamma irradiation

• The SrF2:Dy and SrF2:Cu nanoparticles were synthesized for the first time.
• The co-precipitation method as an easy and low cost method was used.
• A linear dose response in a broad range of the absorbed dose was achieved.
• The TL response remains almost unchanged after several cycles of irradiation, annealing and readout.

Dy and Cu-doped SrF2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by using co-precipitation method and their possible application to solid state dosimetry were studied and compared to that of pure SrF2 NPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) were used for sample characterization. The highest thermoluminescence (TL) response of SrF2:Dy and SrF2:Cu NPs were found respectively at 0.5 and 0.7 mol% of Dy and Cu impurities. Seven overlapping glow peaks at 384, 406, 421, 449, 569, 495, 508 K and three component glow peaks at 381, 421 and 467 K were identified respectively for SrF2:Dy and SrF2:Cu NPs employing Tm–Tstop and computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) methods. The TL sensitivity of SrF2:Dy is approximately the same as that of LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) cheeps. Linear dose response were observed for the SrF2:Dy and SrF2:Cu NPs up to the absorbed doses of 1 kGy and 10 kGy correspondingly. Regarding other dosimetry characteristics of the produced NPs such as fading, reproducibility and thermal treatment, Dy and Cu doped SrF2 NPs recommend for high dose TL dosimetry applications.