Photoluminescence and thermoluminescence properties of pure and rare‐earth‐doped ZrO₂ prepared by Pechini‐type sol–gel

Abstract

In this paper, photoluminescence and thermoluminescence properties of ZrO2, ZrO2:Dy3+, ZrO2:Dy3+–Gd3+, ZrO2:Dy3+–Yb3+, ZrO2:Dy3+–Er3+, and ZrO2:Dy3+–Sm3+ phosphors synthesized by the Pechini method were investigated. The crystal structure, thermal properties, morphology, photoluminescence and thermoluminescence properties were investigated using XRD, DTA/TGA, SEM, PL and TL, respectively. The room temperature emission bands corresponding to 4F9/2→6HJ (J=9/2, 11/2, 13/2 and 15/2) transitions of Dy3+ ions were measured. The phosphors were analysed using Tm‐TSTOP, variable dose, and computerized glow curve fitting methods. Reusability, dose‐response, and fading characteristics were investigated. The phosphors have a natural TL emission that vanished by heating treatment. Moreover, new peaks with similar properties to the natural emissions were observed after high‐dose irradiation and long‐term fading experiments. The glow curves of the phosphors have thirteen individual peaks and many low and high‐temperature satellite peaks. The origin of the peaks is ZrO2 host material and doping with RE (Gd3+, Dy3+, Yb3+, Er3+ and Sm3+) does not lead to a new glow peak. The dopants cause drastic changes in individual peak intensities of ZrO2.The initial fading rates of all the phosphorus are relatively fast, but it slows down as time goes on.