Effect of co-doping on luminescence of LiCaAlF6:Eu phosphor

LiCaAlF6 is a versatile host material. Applications of this host as scintillation detector and solid state laser have been reported quite frequently. Thermoluminescence studies on LiCaAlF6:Eu have also been reported. They are, however, not consistent. The glow curve structure depends on the synthesis route. At least two glow peaks are observed, around 180 °C and 240 °C. Effects of co-doping on the glow curve are reported. Co-doping with Y (0.5 mol%) suppresses the 240 °C peak and increases the intensity of 180 °C peak nearly 3 fold and shifts it to slightly higher temperature of 190 °C. Co-doping with La (0.8 mol%), on the other hand, removes 180 °C peak and intense peak at 240 °C can be observed. Thus co-doping produces a relatively simple glow curve with only one dominant peak. LiCaAlF6:Eu phosphor also shows intense optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). The OSL sensitivity of LiCaAlF6:Eu codoped with Y is about 7 times that of commercially available Al2O3:C. Other OSL properties useful for dosimetry applications are also reported in this paper.