Investigations on luminescence properties of erbium-doped phosphate glass produced at Juiz de Fora Federal University

Highlights: • TL characterization of Er³⁺ -doped phosphate glass. • OSL characterization of Er³⁺ -doped phosphate glass. • TL/OSL Intrinsic efficiencies of Er³⁺ -doped phosphate glass. -- Abstract: Rare Earth doped-phosphate glasses have received a great deal of attention on research because of their applications in biomaterial engineering, however, little to no attention has been given to potential luminescent properties from "heating" these materials when exposed to ionizing radiation. This paper aims to presents results on investigations of Thermoluminescent (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) properties of the Er³⁺-doped phosphate glasses produced at the Physics Department of Federal University of Juiz de Fora on a characterization for beta radiation dosimetry. It was used a RISØ TL/OSL reader and its coupled ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y beta source. The experimental findings indicate that the material presents linear responses of thermo (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) over the absorbed dose range of 2 to 20Gy. Its emitted TL and OSL signal is more intense and with extended linearity range compared with undoped phosphate glass, probably caused by two absorption bands on 350–380 nm from Er³⁺. Further investigations are being carried out on its applications to other types and qualities of radiation.