Synthesis and preliminary OSL studies of Ce³⁺ activated calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) for radiation dosimetry

The polycrystalline CaSO₄:Ce³⁺ phosphor samples were successfully synthesized via co-precipitation method. The structural properties of prepared phosphors were evaluated X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The XRD pattern of prepared phosphor well match with International centers for diffraction data (ICDD) file and synthesis methods were not affected on XRD pattern. The surface morphology was studied through scanning electronic microscope and morphology of prepared phosphor was found to in submicron ranges. The Ca_(1−x)SO_4:xCe³⁺ (x = 0.001, 0.005 and 0.01 mol) phosphor show good Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) response under γ irradiation. The CW-OSL sensitivity of prepared CaSO_4:xCe³⁺ phosphor is 40 times less than that of OSL sensitivity of LiMgPO₄:Tb³⁺ phosphor. The minimum detectable dose (MDD) of CaSO₄:Ce³⁺ phosphor was calculated and found to 91.4 mGy. The photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra were observed at 296 and 326 nm, respectively. The optimal PL intensity was obtained at 0.001 mol of Ce³⁺ ion. The effective atomic number (Z_eff) of CaSO₄:Ce³⁺ is 15.3 and the phosphor is a candidate for radiation dosimetry.