Thermoluminescence and dosimetric properties of LiF-Tm2O3 phases mixture under beta particle excitation

In this research work, the synthesis, structural analysis, and thermoluminescence (TL) properties of a LiF-Tm 2 O 3 phases mixture were investigated for a possible application in radiation dosimetry. The material was obtained by incorporating TmF 3 into LiF in aqueous solution (1:99) through controlled evaporation, resulting in a LiF-Tm 2 O 3 mixture with 97 and 3% proportions, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed the crystalline structure and the homogeneous distribution of Tm 2 O 3 within the LiF matrix. The TL glow curve exhibited five maxima at 110, 205, 257, 284, and 340 °C, with the most intense and well-defined TL peak at 205 °C, which is desirable for dosimetry. The integrated TL response showed a linear dependence on dose between 0.2 to 64 Gy. Reusability tests over 10 irradiation-readout cycles revealed a total variation of 10%, with only 10% variation between the fifth and tenth cycle, indicating good stability without pretreatment between cycles. The T M -T Stop method and computerized glow curve deconvolution analysis revealed six TL peaks, predominantly following first-order kinetics. Notably, the 205 °C peak is associated with a single trap. These experimental results indicate that the LiF-Tm 2 O 3 phases mixture is a promising material for the design of TL dosimeter.