Luminescence properties of europium doped lithium potassium tetraborate (Eu:LiKB4O7) single crystal for dosimetry applications

This paper describes an investigation of thermoluminescence radiation dosimetry characteristics of Eu:LiKB 4 O 7 single crystal grown from Czochralski technique. The Eu:LiKB 4 O 7 polycrystalline compound was synthesized by standard solid-state reaction method. Phase purity of both crystalline and polycrystalline materials was analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction technique. UV–Vis–NIR spectral analysis was carried out to study the optical characteristics of the grown crystal. Europium ion in the trivalent state in the host LiKB 4 O 7 was confirmed by its characteristic emission at 613 nm due to the 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 transition. The (x, y) color chromaticity coordinates of Eu:LiKB 4 O 7 was found to occur in the orange region of CIE 1931 diagram. The Eu:LiKB 4 O 7 single crystalline samples was–irradiated by a Co-60 source at varying doses, suitable for radiation dosimetry applications, and their thermoluminescence (TL) properties was analyzed. The prominent TL glow peak of the grown crystal appears around 184 °C. The TL intensity increases linearly up to 156 Gy with excellent reusability and the fading was calculated for tenure of 60 days.