Effect of cerium doping on the structural, morphological, photoluminescent and thermoluminescent properties of sodium strontium pentaborate microstructures

We have reported a new blue-emitting cerium (Ce3+)-doped sodium strontium pentaborate (Na3SrB5O10) microstructures via a conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction route. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the phosphors crystallized in triclinic structure. Significantly, well-shaped morphology in micrometer dimension phosphors was identified by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The phosphors displayed a single broad blue emission centered at around 370 nm because of the Ce3+ 5d–4f transition under the excitation wavelength of 232 nm. In the region of room temperature to 350 °C, the thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves consist of only one sharp peak located at about 200.31 °C. The optimum concentration of Ce3+ for TL and PL intensity was found to be 1 at.% in host. These results suggest that the newly proposed Na3SrB5O10:Ce3+ phosphor with the suitable TL emission (Tm ~ 200 °C) in micrometer dimension might potentially be used for thermoluminescence dosimetric applications.