Investigation of Thermoluminescence Properties of Li₂B₄O₇: Ag, Cu, Ni Nano-Composites

The present paper explores the TL characteristics of Ag, Cu and Ni doped and co-doped Li₂B₄O₇ nano-composites (NCs). These NCs were synthesized via a Sol–gel process. The influence of doping agents on the optical and TL properties of Li₂B₄O₇ NCs was investigated. Obtained nano-composites were calcined at 700 °C for 8 h. The incorporation of Ag, Cu and Ni impurities in Li₂B₄O₇ lattice has been confirmed by the FT-IR spectra; this may be explained by the formation of Ag–O (513 cm⁻¹), Cu–O (497 cm⁻¹) and Ni–O (419 cm⁻¹) bonds. XRD diffractograms have shown the only crystallographic phases tetragonal. The crystallite size was found to be in the range from 355 to 463 Å. The set of kinetic parameters have been calculated. TL glow curves showed a multiple TL peaks after various beta irradiation. The addition of Ag, Cu and Ni ions induced changes in the structure and the kinetic properties of the TL glow curves, modifying the radiative recombination efficiency. TL response results suggest that the Ag, Cu, Ni co-doped Li₂B₄O₇ nano-composites phosphor present a good potential for beta irradiation dosimeter applications.