Abstract
Lantanium triborate (LaB3O6) samples doped with Eu3+ ions are synthesized via combustion route. This study primarily reports the thermoluminescence (TL) behaviour of LaB3O6 host. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern reveals that LaB3O6 exhibits a single phase matched with JCPDS card 98-002-3609. Dose response, reusability and trap parameters of TL glow curves are evaluated to clearly reveal the TL features. The results show that the peak positions of TL glow curves are affected by varying the concentration of Eu. The experimental results obtained from the dose-response of LaB3O6:Eu3+ (1%) which has given high TL intensity reveal that the intensity of TL given by the total area under glow curves shows a good linearity (b = 0.997) up to 20 Gy. In addition, the minimum detectable dose (MDD) value has been calculated as 1.45 mGy with a standard deviation of 0.8%. Main TL peak maxima is observed around 197 degrees C with heating rate (HR) of 2 degrees Cs-1. An anomalous HR effect is observed for this peak in the range of 0.5-20 degrees Cs-1 with beta dose of 5 Gy. To find the overlapping peak numbers and determine the kinetic parameters of the main peak of LaB3O6:Eu3+ (1%), Initial Rise (IR) method using T-m - T-stop experiment and CGCD analysis have been performed for HRs of 0.5 and 2 degrees Cs-1. It can be said that the results of the methods are in good agreement when same trap numbers (at least eight separate peaks for both) and close energy values are taken into consideration. Deconvolution procedure of LaB3O6: Eu3+(1%) is performed using general order kinetic equation by R studio 'tgcd'. Additionally, the lifetimes of each deconvolved peaks by CGCD of Eu activated LaB3O6 (1%) have been calculated. Based on the results it can be put forth that TL characteristics of Eu doped LaB3O6 can be used as a promising material for thermoluminescence dosimetry-environmental applications.