EPR dosimetric investigations of a tissue equivalent Li₂B₄O₇ host for high dose applications

Radiation dosimetry is a prerequisite for the radiation protection programme. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is a well-established method for dosimetric assessment, as this process does not damage the irradiated sample. Further, the dose information is not lost after several rounds of reading, unlike in thermo-luminescent (TL) dosimetry. Moreover, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommends EPR dosimetry as the standard technique for high dose measurements. The suitable dosimetric materials that can be used for personnel monitoring and other instances involving biological systems should have an effective 'Z' (Z_eff) value close to that of the tissue for accurate dose response measurements. Lithium tetra-borate (LTB, Li₂B₄O₇). LTB is one such tissue equivalent material with Z_eff = 7.2. In this present work, we report the synthesis, characterization and EPR dose response studies of LTB samples. LTB samples were prepared from its individual precursors namely, Lithium Carbonate and Boric Acid via high temperature reaction route. XRD studies confirmed the formation of a single phase compounds without any impurity. The identification of the chemical nature of the radical along with its saturation behavior were also investigated. (author)