Yttria thin films doped with rare earth for applications in radiation detectors and thermoluminescent dosimeters
Introduction
Yttrium oxide doped with trivalent rare earth ions is a well known material suitable for scintillating devices [1], [2]. These materials are normally prepared as ceramic pellets or single crystals. The aim of this work is to produce thin films of such materials via an alternative route and investigate the potential use of such films as radiation detectors, either TL dosimeters or scintillating detectors.
Section snippets
Experimental details
The films were produced in the Laboratory of Materials Processing and Characterisation (LPCM) at UFS via a new sol–gel route [3] using the dip coating technique [4]. Solutions of Y(NO3)3.6H2O and Y(NO3)3.6H2O+Nd(NO3)3 were mixed to coconut water (Cocos nucifera) forming the starting gels. Thin films with five layers were deposited in glass substrate at a dip velocity of 10 cm/min. After each layer, the films were dried at 100 °C for 15 min, followed by a thermal treatment at 500 °C per 5 or 10
Results and discussion
Viscous and homogeneous sols were prepared by dissolving yttrium and neodymium nitrate in filtered coconut water. The protein–metal chains adheres to the substrate and form an organic thin film that after thermal treatment, is converted into oxide films. Pure and 1 mol% Nd doped Y2O3 thin films were produced in different conditions. Table 1 presents the experimental conditions used during the oxidation and densification of the films.
In Fig. 1, the powder diffraction pattern of the films were
Conclusion
In the sol–gel route, coconut water has proved to be a reliable method for the growth of undoped and Nd doped Y2O3 thin films and these films reveals properties that depends on the preparation conditions. The TL and RL light yields indicates that the films can be particularly suitable for scintillating devices rather than solid state TL dosimetrers.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to FINEP-CTPETRO, CAPES, RENAMI-CNPq and FAPESE for financial support.
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