Thermoluminescence and photoluminescence study of nanocrystalline Ba_0.97Ca_0.03SO₄ : Eu

Nanocrystalline Ba_0.97Ca_0.03SO₄ : Eu having a grain size of 58 nm has been prepared and a comparative study has been done with its corresponding microcrystalline form. The thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve of the nanophosphor has a prominent peak at 161 °C and a very small hump at 225 °C. The TL sensitivity of the nanophosphor is about 0.1 times that of the microphosphor. Kinetics parameters of the TL peaks of the nanophosphor are obtained and are compared with those of the microphosphor. The TL response of the nanophosphor is linear in the dose range 1 Gy–20 KGy, which is much wider than that of its corresponding microcrystalline form. The glow curve shape and structure also do not change in the linear dose range and, since the TL response is linear at higher doses, the nanophosphor is quite well suited for high dose measurements. Photoluminescence emission spectra of the nano- and the microphosphors are also studied and their results correlated with other experimental findings.