Nanostructural processing of advanced thermoluminescent materials

Abstract

The growing interest in transition ceramic nanoparticles doped with various elements is in constant increasing due to their size-dependent physical properties and its potential applications in thermo-luminescence dosimetry. Zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) is a very important semiconductor material having a wide band gap with different interesting applications. Undoped zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) and zirconium oxide doped with various elements (ZrO₂:VD) have been prepared by thermal treatment of precursor sol–gel glasses. The dependence on annealing temperature and time has been analyzed. The structural analysis of the samples has been made by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The nanocrystals obtained had grain sizes ranging from 8 to 40 nm. Thermally Stimulated Luminescent glow curves were obtained and analyzed.

Keywords:

• Nanoparticles of zirconia
• Thermoluminescent materials
• Photoluminescence
• Sol–gel method
• Beta radiation

Acknowledgements

Work supported by grants: SEP-2003-CO2-42473-Y and IPN Research Project 20060367.