Recent Advances and Opportunities in TLD Materials: A Review

Thermoluminescence (TL) is the thermally stimulated emission of light from an insulator or a semiconductor following the previous absorption of energy from ionizing radiation. TL dosimetry is used in many scientific and applied fields such as radiation protection, radiotherapy, industry, and environmental and space research, using many different materials. The basic demands of a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) are good reproducibility, low hygroscopicity, and high sensitivity for very low dose measurements and good response at high doses in radiotherapy and in mixed radiation fields. In this review, we have discussed the past developments and the future opportunities in TLD materials and our efforts to make better future use of low cost materials in TLD applications. For this we have studied and discussed two efficient TLD phosphors with low cost and simple method of preparation on large scale for TLD materials. One of the phosphors is LiF:Mg,Cu,P (LiF: MCP), and another one is LiCaAlF 6 :Eu, which has the potential to replace conventionally used CaSO 4 :Dy TL dosimeter. LiF: MCP and LiCaAlF 6 : Eu phosphors are potential candidates for TL dosimetry and could be good replacement for commercially available phosphors. Apart from this, we have also studied thermoluminescence in Aluminate and Borate materials. We have discussed in detail all three types of TLD materials. First, our study includes complete detail of material properties, methods and dosimetric characterizations of LiF: MCP Phosphor; second, it includes a new TL Dosimeter, LiCaAlF 6 : Eu and its dosimetric characterizations; and lastly on some TL properties of Li 5 AlO 4 : Mn and MgB 4 O 7 : Dy,Na. In this review, we discus some recent developments in radiation dosimetry with regards to the measurement techniques and material preparations. Although many materials have been and are currently being studied for TLD, still there is a scope for the improvement in the material properties useful for the TLD, and the synthesis of new, more suitable materials. Contents of Paper