Effect of particle size on the thermoluminescence (TL) response of silica nanoparticles

•Silica nanoparticles synthesized using sol–gel technique for TL studies.•Fine spherically shaped silica nanoparticles can be obtained by increasing the amount of ethanol.•Largest TL yield is produced by smallest – diameter particles.

By means of the sol–gel technique, silica nanoparticles have been synthesized at room temperature using tetraethyl orthosilicate, ethanol, deionized water, and ammonia solution. By increasing the amount of ethanol in the mixture, fine spherically shaped silica nanoparticles have been obtained. Using finite element scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, characterization was made of the morphology and elemental composition of the nanoparticles. The mean particle sizes of three of the samples were measured to be of the order of 80, 140, 550 nm, while the remaining sample contained particles of diameter <10 nm. To provide for thermoluminescence measurements, the samples were irradiated with γ-rays, delivering doses from 1–200 Gy. The smaller size silica particles, of around 80 nm, were observed to produce the largest thermoluminescence yield as a result of the surface to volume ratio increase, providing more accessible thermoluminescence carriers.