Beryllium oxide nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and thermoluminescence evaluation for gamma radiation detection

Abstract In this study, beryllium oxide nanoparticles (BeO NPs) were synthesized by polymer-gel method with schlenk line. The products were then assessed using FESEM, TGA/DSC, XRD and BET analyses. The quality of two nanooxides, that were calcined at 700 and 800 °C, was studied and compared with bulk BeO particles. The results showed that nanoparticles calcined at 800 °C were more uniform and had ellipsoidal morphology with a particle size of ∼35 nm. Investigation thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of BeO NPs showed that with the decreasing exposed dose/increasing the BeO particle size, TL peaks were observed at higher temperatures. The intensities of glow curves increase linearly with the increasing absorbed dose in the range of 0.001 mGy–1000 Gy. Various other studies including response fading, minimum temperature and minimum time for annealing, and response changes in repeatability cycles of dosimeter also approved the ability of the prepared BeO NPs for use in gamma radiation dosimetry.