Synthesis, structural characterization and thermoluminescence glow curve study of gadolinium-doped Y2O3 nanophosphor

Gadolinium-doped Y2O3 nanophosphor was synthesized by a solid-state reaction method, which could be used for large-scale production of phosphors. The structure of the phosphor sample was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The particle size was calculated from Scherer's formula. X-ray diffraction showed a grain size of 35-55 nm, in good agreement with the scanning electron microscopy image. The synthesized sample showed good morphology and connectivity, with grains and formation of a nano-sized prepared sample. The diffraction pattern was measured by transmission electron microscopy with a selected area diffraction pattern. The prepared phosphor was also examined by thermoluminescence; to record the glow curve, 1 mg phosphor was irradiated with ultraviolet at 254 nm at a fixed heating rate of 7 degrees C s(-1). The sample showed a well-resolved peak at 99 degrees C for 1 mol% of Gd3+. A lower temperature peak showed less stability and more fading of the prepared sample. A thermoluminescence glow curve gives information about trapping parameters such as activation energy and trap depth, order of kinetics and frequency. All the kinetics were calculated by the peak shape method. (C) 2014 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Taibah University.