Characteristics of LiAlO2 – Radioluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence

Radioluminescence (RL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) results of LiAlO2 were compared with Al2O3:C. For blue (470 nm) optical stimulation, RL + OSL signal in LiAlO2 exhibited a sharp initial increase followed by a decay within the first 20 s of continuous wave (CW)-OSL and a very slow increase thereafter. The RL + OSL signal was about 1.25 times of its RL signal in LiAlO2 as compared to 2.5 times in Al2O3:C. With the continued beta irradiation, the RL signal exhibited a faster growth in LiAlO2 than that in Al2O3:C. Emission spectrum of LiAlO2 exhibited multiple emission peaks in the range from 320 to 380 nm as against 410 nm of Al2O3:C. RL and OSL emission spectra were similar in both LiAlO2 and Al2O3:C. The intense RL in LiAlO2 (about 300 times of that of its background signal) for a beta ray dose rate of 4.6 mGy/s appears attractive for radiation dosimetry including real time/online dosimetry and dose mapping.

► In LiAlO2, RL is about 300 times of its background at beta dose rate of 4.6 mGy/s.
► RL and OSL emission spectra are similar and peak between 320 and 380 nm for LiAlO2.
► RL plus OSL is 1.25 and 2.5 times of RL in LiAlO2 and Al2O3:C, respectively.