Characterization of trap centers in Gd2O3 nanoparticles by low temperature thermoluminescence measurements

Trapping centers in Gd2O3 nanoparticles were investigated using thermoluminescence (TL) measurements in the below room temperature region of 10-280 K. Seven peaks having peak maximum temperatures between 30 and 252 K were observed in the TL spectra measured at constant heating rate of 0.3 K/s. Activation energies, order of kinetics and frequency factors were reported using three different analysis techniques: curve fitting, initial rise and peak shape methods. Activation energies of the trapping centers were found between 0.012 eV and 0.79 eV. Most of the TL transitions associated with observed peaks were found as dominated by mixed order of kinetics. Structural characterization of used nanoparticles was achieved using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy experiments.