Thermoluminescence and photoluminescence in the NaCaPO4:Dy3+ phosphor.

Dy(3+)-doped NaCaPO(4) phosphor was synthesised at an initiating combustion temperature of 600°C, using urea as the fuel. The crystallinity of the phosphor was investigated by using X-ray diffraction. The photoluminescence and thermoluminescence (TL) behaviours of NaCaPO(4):Dy(3+) phosphor was also studied. It has a simple TL glow curve structure, which does not change when exposed to gamma-rays. A TL glow peak is observed at 230°C and TL intensity is around 1.15 times more compared with commercial CaSO(4):Dy TLD phosphor. The TL characteristics of the phosphor prepared show that it has good sensitivity, linear response with gamma-rays exposure, emission in the blue-yellow regions of the spectrum, negligible fading and excellent reusability. These results make Dy(3+)-doped NaCaPO(4) phosphor attractive for TLD applications.