Luminescence characteristics of Eu and Ti doped LiNaF2 phosphor

Polycrystalline low Z phosphors (Zeff = 9.54) LiNaF2:Eu and LiNaF2:Ti prepared by standard solid state diffusion method are studied for their photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics. The PL emission spectra of the phosphors suggest the presence of Eu3+ and Ti4+ in the host compound occupying two different lattice sites. The intense emission observed in the spectrum of Eu doped phosphor is assigned to electronic transitions 5D0 →7F2 in Eu3+ ions. In Ti4+ doped phosphor the observed emission in the range 350–390 nm attributed to Ti4+ ions. The TL glow curves of these LiNaF2 phosphors exposed to γ-rays from 137Cs for different exposures are discussed for the first time. The thermoluminescence (TL) response in the 0.1–5.3 Gy dose range increased linearly with the increase in radiation dose. The whole glow curve displays a remarkable stability upon storage at room temperature. The TL sensitivity of the phosphors is compared with standard commercial TLD phosphor CaSO4:Dy and is found to be 5.37 times less in LiNaF2:Eu and 9.25 times less in LiNaF2:Ti phosphor.