Photoluminescence and thermoluminescence of K2Mg(SO4)2:Eu and evaluation of its kinetic parameters

The K2Mg(SO4)2:Eu phosphor, synthesized by a solid‐state diffusion method, was studied for its photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the material was matched with the standard JCPDF No. 36–1499. For PL characteristics, K2Mg(SO4)2:Eu2+ showed an emission peak at 474 nm when excited at 340 nm, while it showed Eu3+ emission at 580 nm, and 594 nm splitting at 613 nm and 618 nm for an excitation of 396 nm wavelength due to radiative transitions from 5D0 to 7Fj (j = 0, 1, 2, 3). The Commission International de I′ Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates were also calculated for the K2Mg(SO4)2:Eu phosphor, and were close to the NTSC standard values. For the TL study, the prepared sample was irradiated using a 60Co source of γ‐irradiation at the dose rate of 0.322 kGy/h for 2 min. The formation of traps in K2Mg (SO4)2:Eu and the effects of γ‐radiation dose on the glow curve are discussed. Well defined broad glow peaks were obtained at 186°C. With increasing γ‐ray dose, the sample showed linearity in intensity. The presence of a single glow peak indicated that there was only one set of traps being activated within the particular temperature range. The presented phosphors were also studied for their fading, reusability and trapping parameters. There was just 2% fading during a period of 30 days, indicating no serious fading problem. Kinetic parameters were calculated using the initial rise method and Chen's half‐width method. Activation energy and frequency factor were found to be 0.77 eV and 1.41 × 106 sec−1.