Processing and EPR characterization of europium, thulium co-doped yttria (YET) powders for radiation dosimetry

Abstract

Radiation dosimetry demands a continuous effort in development of new materials due to its essential purpose, accuracy and quality assurance in all procedures in which radiation energy is used. Rare-earths are critical materials due to their great chemical and physical properties, whose applicability has been shown very relevant in radiation dosimetry. The present study reports an approach to obtain europium, thulium co-doped yttria powders (YET) by an alternative hydrothermal synthesis for application in radiation dosimetry. According to results, the proposed synthesis method provided YET powders with cubic C-type form, flake-like shape, and narrow particle-size distribution with mean diameter (d50) of 148 nm. Moreover, the EPR spectra of the as-synthesized powders exhibited a resonance peak recorded at 335.52mT, with g-value of 2.0094, and peak-width of 3.23mT. As exposed to ionizing radiation (60Co) in a range of dose from 1 to 20 kGy, YET powders exhibited distinct dose-response behaviour as a function of dose, including a slight change in g-factor. These findings are substantial parameters to go forward in formation of new materials for radiation dosimetry.