Optical characterization of X-Ray irradiated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots embedded in polymeric resins for dosimetry applications

Abstract In this work, polymeric resins doped with CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were prepared and irradiated with ionizing radiation (X-ray) by using a linear high-voltage accelerator. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra and thermo-optical characterizations were obtained in five different dosages (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Gy). Two sets of resin samples were prepared, one with different QDs concentrations (and core size fixed in 5.1 nm), and another group using the same QDs concentration and three different core sizes (5.1, 2.9, or 2.4 nm). Dual-beam mode-mismatched Thermal Lens (TL) technique was applied in the determination of the thermal diffusivity (D) and the amplitude of the TL signal. All measured optical and thermal parameters were compared (before and after X-ray irradiation) to determine the potential of the polymeric resin doped with CdSe/ZnS QDs to detect the presence of X-rays, aiming at a possible application as a dosimeter.