Synthesis and thermoluminescent properties of new ZnO phosphors

In this work, results on the thermoluminescence dosimetry properties of beta particle irradiated ZnO obtained by thermal annealing of chemically synthesized ZnS are reported. ZnS powder was sintered at 950 °C during 24 h in air, in order to obtain pellet-shaped ZnO samples. The thermoluminiescence (TL) intensity of ZnO previously exposed to beta radiation increased as the dose increased in the 0.025-6.4 kGy interval studied. Characteristic glow curves exhibited two emission maxima at ~ 94 and ~ 341 °C. The dosimetric peak located at ~ 341 °C shifted towards lower temperatures as the dose increased, which indicates that second-order kinetic processes are involved in the thermoluminiescence emission. The dose response of ZnO showed a linear behaviour in the 0.025 Gy-0.8 kGy dose interval, which makes this material suitable and promising for medical, industrial and also space dosimetry applications. The thermoluminescence total signal faded down 48 % 6 h after irradiation and showed an asymptotic behaviour for longer times, due mainly to the ~ 341 °C stable and dosimetric glow peak.