Effect of dopants in the luminescent properties of synthetic quartz for dosimetric purposes

Quartz obtained from structural materials (bricks, tiles, etc.) is often employed as a dosimeter using the thermoluminescence (TL) technique in the field of dating and retrospective dosimetry. The TL response depends on the impurities in quartz lattice. Because of this, some members of β-quartz series were synthesised using the ceramic method from precursor powders—Li2CO3, Al(NO3)3·9H2O, Si(C2H5O)4—with different compositions, to create standard materials. The lattice of aluminosilicates consists of chains of SiO4 and AlO4 tetrahedra forming spirals or rings. The Al3+ ions replace Si4+ and a positive charge is needed (trapped holes or Na+, K+, Li+, etc. cations). The Li+ ions are placed in void channels inside the spirals of (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedra. Some characteristic features of the TL signal in three of β-quartz with different concentrations of lithium–aluminium were measured in the UV-blue region of the spectrum. Irradiated β-quartz samples display high linearity—one of the main features of a dosimeter—after additional radiation doses (from 0.5 to 5 Gy).