Synthesis and thermoluminescence of scandium-titanium based oxide mixture

Recently, the research team synthesized some scandium- and titanium-based oxide compounds, in order to analyze their thermoluminescent (TL) response [1-2]. The oxides mixture Sc₂TiO₅:Eu₂Ti₂O₇:Sc₂O₃ was synthesized in equilibrium phase by solid state reaction at 1100 °C / 48 h. The structural characterization was performed by XRD and SEM. The TL properties of this oxide mixture were examined after exposing it to gamma radiation from a ⁶⁰Co source. The glow curve showed two main glow peaks at 151 °C and 260 °C, yet the curve shape looks quite complex, revealing that it is composed by overlapped individual TL peaks, which was confirmed with the T preheat method performed [3]. The linear dose-response between 150 to 600 Gy was obtained, followed by a slow saturation stage. The intensity of the glow curves increases as the radiation dose increases, and their maxima remain at the same temperature values, which indicates that the TL phenomenon follows first-order kinetics [4], After ten irradiation-TL readout cycles at 500 Gy, good stability (SD 2.02 %) between TL integrated response and the exposure dose was found. It is concluded that Sc₂TiO₅:Eu₂Ti₂O₇:Sc₂O₃ is a promising material to use as high-dose dosimeter.