Thermoluminescence study of gamma irradiated BCNO nanophosphor

Boron carbon oxynitride (BCNO) is a low Zeff (≈6.8), near tissue equivalent material. Nanocrystals of the BCNO:Dy and BCNO:Cu were synthesized by solid state reaction method using different concentrations of dopants. TL characteristics of the synthesized BCNO and BCNO:Dy material doped with 2500 ppm concentration of Dy were studied and compared with each other. It is observed that the doping of BCNO with Cu or Dy leads to the quenching of its TL properties. BCNO exhibits a linear response from 1×102 to 2×103 Gy whereas BCNO:Dy exhibits a linear response from 1×102 to 1×103 Gy of gamma radiations. Fading and reproducibility of phosphors are also studied and it is found that the undoped BCNO shows better TL results than that of Dy doped BCNO phosphor. The main disadvantages of this material are its low thermal stability and high fading, so further studies are needed for this material before concluding it as the best dosimeter for gamma doses.

► Current paper deals with the synthesis of nanocrystalline BCNO using solid state reaction method.
► The effect of Cu and Dy doping on TL properties of BCNO nanophosphor is also discussed.
► TL properties of BCNO are compared with that of BCNO doped with Dy.