Enhancement in luminescence properties of ZrO2:Dy3+ under 100 MeV swift Ni7+ ion irradiation

Abstract

ZrO₂:Dy³⁺ samples are synthesized by a combustion technique. The XRD results of ZrO₂:Dy³⁺ (1 mol%) reveal a monoclinic phase with an average crystallite size of ∼30 nm. FESEM images show spherical nanoparticles with a diameter of ∼60 nm. Luminescence properties are analyzed as a function of the Dy³⁺ concentration. The ZrO₂:Dy³⁺ samples exhibit PL emission at 489 nm and 589 nm, corresponding to ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2 transitions under an excitation of 353 nm. The most favorable PL emission corresponds to a Dy³⁺ concentration of 1 mol%. Furthermore, pellets of ZrO₂:Dy³⁺ (1 mol%) are irradiated with 100 MeV swift Ni⁷⁺ ions in the fluence range of 3 × 10¹⁰ to 1 × 10¹³ ions per cm². Blue (489 nm) and yellow (589 nm) PL emission intensities increase with the increase in ion fluence up to 3 × 10¹² ions per cm², and beyond this fluence, the PL intensity decreases with further increases in the ion fluence. The blue to yellow transition ratio increases with ion fluence, which indicates that the Ni ion induced defects modify the material from lower to higher symmetry. TL glow curves of the undoped ZrO₂ exhibit a well resolved glow at 424 K, and an unresolved one at 550 K. ZrO₂:Dy³⁺ (1 mol%) exhibits a broad TL glow with a peak centered at 480 K. This glow peak intensity increases with an increase in ion fluence, up to 1 × 10¹³ ions per cm². TL kinetic parameters are calculated by computerized curve deconvolution analysis (CCDA). The presented results show that ZrO₂:Dy³⁺ phosphors may be tested for TL dosimetry applications.