UV excited thermoluminescence and kinetic analysis of  CaZrO3:xCe3+ phosphors synthesized by sol–gel combustion method

Abstract

This paper reports the structural, morphological, photoluminescence and thermolumi- nescence studies of Ce 3+ doped CaZrO 3 phosphor at different concentrations (x  =  0.1− 0.6 mol%) through sol–gel combustion method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emissio n scannin g electro n microscop y an d Fourie r transforms infrared spectroscopy. The XRD results indicated the prepared phosphors showed perovs- kite structure. Study of photoluminescence (PL) behavior at room temperature showed when the phosphors were excited by light with a wavelength of 253  nm, three emission peaks at 405, 432 and 509 nm were obtained, respectively. By increasing Ce 3+ concentra- tion, the emission peaks in PL spectra slightly shift from violet region to blue region. The thermoluminescence (TL) behavior of CaZrO 3 ∶ xCe 3+ phosphors were studied at room temperature under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation at various times. The TL glow curve of Ca 0.998 Ce 0.002 ZrO 3 phosphor as a function of UV irradiation time displays linear behavior in the time between 10 and 40 s. A significantly stability and less fading of the TL response is observed which is suitable for TL dosimetry. TL kinetic parameters such as activation energy and order of kinetics have been evaluated by Computerized Glow Curve Deconvo- lution technique.