On thermoluminescence mechanism and energy leakage in Lu2O3:Tb,V storage phosphor

Abstract

The energy storage properties of Lu2O3:Tb,V sintered materials when exposed to X-rays were investigated for the first time using a number of thermoluminescent techniques. Thermoluminescence was generated exclusively by the Tb3+ ions, which served also as hole-trapping centers. Two TL peaks at ∼170 °C and 220 °C were found to be directly connected with V-electron traps and were assigned to the release of first (170 °C) and second (220 °C) electron from VXLu. It was evidenced that each of the two TL bands results from strongly overlapping components showing continuous distribution of energies. Significant contribution from semi-localized transitions to carriers annihilation was also proved. Keywords: Storage phosphors, Lutetium oxide, Semi-localized transition model, Continuous distribution of trap energy