Thermoluminescence of sol-gel derived Y2O3:Nd3+ nanophosphor exposed to 100Â MeV Si8+ ions and gamma rays

Nanocrystalline Nd3+ doped Y2O3 was synthesized by sol-gel technique. Crystallite size calculated by Scherrer relation was found to be in the range 28-30 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed YO, OH stretching and CO bending bonds. Pellets of Y2O3:Nd3+ were irradiated with 100 MeV swift Si8+ ions and γ-rays for the fluence/dose in the range 3 × 1011-3 × 1013 ions cm−2 and 1.0_14 kGy respectively. A prominent thermoluminescence (TL) glow with peak at 527 K and a weak one with peak at 600 K were observed in Si8+ ion irradiated samples while, a prominent TL glow with peak at 393 K besides a shoulder at 434 K and a weak one with peak at 581 K were observed in γ-irradiated phosphors. The relative TL efficiency of Y2O3:Nd3+ of 100 MeV Si ion beam to γ-rays of 60Co and is found to be 0.059. The TL kinetic parameters were calculated using Chen's peak shape method and the results obtained are discussed. Y2O3:Nd3+ was observed for its use in space dosimetry application.