LiAlO2 with nanocrystals of Al2Tb4O9 / Tb(AlO3) synthesized by sol-gel technique for TL and OSL applications

Abstract Using a sol-gel route, powder samples of γ-LiAlO 2 and doped with Tb were synthesized successfully. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrated that doped samples were composed of two phases Al 2 Tb 4 O 9 and Tb(AlO 3 ), which form long nanostructure crystals reveled by SEM images on the surface of γ-LiAlO 2 grains. The undoped and doped samples supplied intense and complex TL glow curves, which were studied by Tm-Tstop method. A minimum detection dose (MDD) of 2.2 mGy was obtained with the 210 °C TL peak of γ-LiAlO 2 :Tb. OSL results of γ-LiAlO 2 :Tb showed strong thermal and optical charges transfer behavior. The OSL response of γ-LiAlO 2 :Tb could be sensitized by high dose irradiation and supplied a MDD of 5 mGy.