Abstract
Here, we report the thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics and trapping parameters under beta ray excitations of pelletized Gd-incorporated ZnB2O4 synthesized through the gel combustion method. The chemical composition of the obtained Gd incorporated ZnB2O4 was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The best doping concentration of Gd was 0.25 mass%, which resulted in the highest luminous efficiency. The glow curves of the pellet-formed samples exposed to beta-irradiation at various doses showed glow peaks at about 79 degrees C, 133 degrees C and 276 degrees C with a heating rate of 2 degrees Cs-1. An anomalous heating rate effect was observed for the peak centered at 276 degrees C, but the TL intensity of the peak at 79 degrees C and 133 degrees C decreased with an increasing heating rate. The TL glow peaks were studied using T-m-T-stop, initial rise (IR), and variable heating rate (VHR) and Computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) methods. In the range of 0.1-50 Gy, the total integral values of TL output increased linearly with increased dose. A complex glow curves are composed of six distinguishable peaks as revealed by the results obtained from IR and CGCD methods. The current results indicate that the ZnB2O4:Gd3+ phosphor is a suitable option in radiation dosimetry for environmental monitoring.