Thermoluminescence response and kinetic parameters of Tb-doped GdCa4O(BO3)3 under beta irradiation
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In this study, the thermoluminescence (TL) properties of Tb3+-doped GdCa4O(BO3)(3) (GdCOB) are investigated with focus on the effects of optical filter selection, preheating, dopant concentration, irradiation dose, heating rate on these properties. Trapping parameters of the traps responsible for the peaks in the phosphor were also determined. The IRSL-TL-565 nm filter was identified as optimal filter for isolating the characteristic green emission of Tb3+ and improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Among the studied dopant concentrations (1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 wt%), 3 wt% Tb3+ was found to maximize TL intensity. Beyond this concentration, quenching effects became dominant, leading to reduced TL efficiency. At 3 wt% doping, TL glow peaks were observed at approximately 80 and 190 degrees C following a 50 Gy beta dose with a heating rate of 2 degrees C/s, with the primary peak (similar to 190 degrees C) favorable for minimizing thermal fading. The TL response of the primary peak was linear with dose within 5-500 Gy. The peak's TL intensity is affected by thermal quenching effects. Reusing of an aliquot of the phosphor ten times produced responses with 0.45 % maximum deviation from their mean. Additionally, the peak temperature (T-m) exhibited a slight decrease beyond 100 Gy, which can be attributed to charge carrier interactions, trap filling effects, and potential thermal quenching at higher doses. Heating rate experiments showed the expected shift of peak temperatures to higher values, emphasizing the need to correct for temperature lag in kinetic analyses. Computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) indicated the presence of at least eight distinct trapping levels with activation energies ranging from 0.90 to 1.69 eV, revealing a complex trap structure. Overall, with its high TL intensity, linear dose response, and aliquot reusability, Tb3+-doped GdCOB is a promising phosphor for personal dosimetry, environmental radiation monitoring, and medical imaging.