SrAl2O4: Ce:

Abstract

Strontium aluminate (SrAl2O4) doped with different Ce concentrations was synthesized by the solid-state reaction method to find the best thermoluminescent response. The crystal structure of the material has been analyzed by Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. The effects of different dopant concentrations and thermal annealing regimes on TL sensitivity and the optimum conditions for producing dosimeters with superior sensitivity to commercial dosimeters were investigated. It has been shown that the maximum TL sensitivity is obtained at a concentration of 0.3 mol% Ce and a heat treatment at 1000 °C for 2 h. The TL glow curve of Ce-doped strontium aluminate (SrAl2O4) pellets shows three TL peaks at 90, 150, and 250 °C. The dosimetric characteristics of the new material examined in this work are linear response in the dose range with applications in personal and environmental dosimetry; TL sensitivity; minimum detection dose; reproducibility; energy dependence; and TL signal fading. Based on the results obtained, the synthesized material is a dosimeter with a sensitivity 2.44 times higher than the commercial dosimeter TLD-100 (LiF:Ti,Mg).