Thermoluminescence properties of 100 MeV Si7+ swift heavy ions and UV irradiated CdSiO3:Ce3+ nanophosphor

This work explores the preparation of nanocrystalline Ce3+ (1-9 mol%) doped CdSiO3 phosphors via solution combustion process and its thermoluminescence (TL) behavior upon UV and swift heavy ion irradiation. The nanopowders were well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy. PXRD results confirm monoclinic phase upon calcination at 800 degrees C for 2 h. SEM micrographs indicate that the powder is highly porous and agglomerated. The TEM images show that the powder consists of spherical shaped particles of size similar to 15-60 nm. The TL studies were carried out with 100 MeV Si7+ ions in the fluence range 3 x 10(11)-3 x 10(13) ions cm(-2) as well as with UV exposed in the range 1-70 min. It is observed that in UV exposed samples, the glow curve structure is simple and TL intensity increases up to 20 min UV dose and after that it decreases. The trap parameters were analyzed using glow curve deconvolution and peak shape method and results are discussed in detail. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.