Lu2O3:Tb,Hf storage phosphor

Abstract Lu 2 O 3 :Tb,Hf ceramics containing 0.1% of Tb and 0–1.5% of Hf were prepared in reducing atmosphere at 1700 °C and their thermoluminescence properties were systematically studied. For comparison Tb,Ca co-doped specimen was also fabricated and investigated. The Tb,Hf ceramics shows basically a single TL band located around 180 °C as found with heating rate of 15 °C/min. Ceramics singly doped with Tb show complex TL glow curves indicating the presence of traps of very different depths. On the other hand Tb,Ca co-doping is beneficial for the development of shallow traps with the main TL band around 70 °C. Hence, the aliovalent impurities, Ca 2+ and Hf 4+ , strongly influenced the traps structure in Lu 2 O 3 :Tb ceramics, each of them in its own specific way. Isothermal decay of Lu 2 O 3 :Tb,Hf at 185 °C was recorded and its shape suggest that multiple hole trapping occurs in the Lu 2 O 3 :Tb,Hf ceramics. Due to the different traps depths the Lu 2 O 3 :Tb,Hf ceramics possess properties typical for storage phosphors, while Lu 2 O 3 :Tb,Ca is a persistent luminescent material rather.