1. Department of Physics, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur, India;2. Department of Physics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, The Free State, South Africa;3. Department of Chemistry, Sevadal Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Nagpur, India
Abstract:
A series of single‐phase phosphors based on Na6Mg(SO4)4 (Zeff = 11.70) doped with Dy and Eu was prepared by the wet chemical method. The photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) properties of Dy3+‐ and Eu3+‐activated Na6Mg(SO4)4 phosphors were investigated. The characteristic emissions of Dy3+ and Eu3+ were observed in the Na6Mg(SO4)4 host. The TL glow curve of the Na6Mg(SO4)4:Dy phosphor consisted of a prominent peak at 234°C and a very small hump at 158°C. The TL sensitivity of the Na6Mg(SO4)4:Dy phosphor was found to be four times less than the commercialized CaSO4:Dy phosphor. The TL dose–response of the Na6Mg(SO4)4:Dy phosphor was studied from a dose range of 5–10 kGy and the linear dose–response was observed up to 1 kGy which is good for a microcrystalline phosphor. Trapping parameters for both the samples were calculated using the Initial Rise and Chen's peak shape methods.