The Influence of Energy Levels and Defects on the Thermoluminescence of LiF: SiO5 Phosphors Doped with Ce3+

Abstract

The morphological, structural, and thermoluminescence (TL) properties of LiF:SiO5 doped with Ce3+ solid powder phosphor were systematically analyzed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the crystalline nature of single-phase LiF:SiO5:Ce3+ nanoparticles (NPs), with crystalline size (D) determined using the Williamson–Hall (W–H) and Scherrer methods. Ce3+ doping induced structural modifications, reflected in variations of full width at half maximum (FWHM), strain, and stress values. The TL glow curve revealed two distinct peaks at approximately 64 °C and 134 °C, shedding light on the electron capture and release mechanisms following beta irradiation. A dose-dependent study demonstrated that TL intensity increased proportionally with radiation exposure, showing a superlinearity relationship up to 6 Gy. Additionally, investigations into different heating rates indicated only a slight shift in peak of the temperature, confirming the thermal stability of the materials. This study provides valuable insights into the TL behavior of LiF:SiO5:Ce3+, making it a promising candidate for radiation dosimetry and luminescence applications.