Sol-gel synthesis of thermoluminescent Cd-doped ZnTe nanoparticles

The Cd (3 wt%)-doped ZnTe nanoparticles with average size of 5 nm and band gap energy of 3.15 eV were synthesized by sol-gel method. The optical properties (such as band gap energy) and the size distribution of the nanoparticles have been investigated by using UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Then, thermoluminescence property of the nanoparticles exposed to various doses of gamma radiation of Cs¹³⁷ has been studied. The thermoluminescence glow peak of the nanoparticles showed a displacement from 290 to 230°C by increasing the dose of gamma radiation from 7.5 to 67.5 mSv. The thermoluminescence intensity of the synthesized Cd-doped ZnTe nanoparticles also showed a linear dose response. (author)