Synthesis and TSL properties of SnO^sub 2^:Eu nanophosphor for high gamma dosimetry

Europium (Eu) doped tin oxide (SnO2) nanoform was synthesized using simple hydrothermal method. The synthesized nanophosphor is found to possess tetragonal structure having particle size of about 30-35 nm. Interplanner spacing of around 0.337 nm representing an (110) plane of the tetragonal structure has been observed using TEM, which is in agreement with the XRD results. FTIR showed a presence of a number of functional groups including O--H, C=O, C--H, O--Sn--O. A temperature-dependent weight loss-gain was analyzed using TGA-DTG. Studies of Thermally Stimulated Luminescence (TSL) properties showed a glow curve containing three distinct peaks. Good linear response was observed for higher intensity peak for a gamma dose ranging from 1 kGy to 20 kGy with less fading. Thus, the studied SnO2:Eu nanophosphor is as an excellent material for high gamma dosimetry applications. Moreover, the activation energy, order of kinetics, figure of merit have been evaluated using CGCD simulation of TSL glow curve.