Potassium sulphate (K2SO4) based phosphorus structural and thermoluminescence properties research

The detection and dose measurement of ionizing radiation have long held an important place in the physical and life sciences. Precise dose measurements are crucial, especially in medical applications. Therefore, thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) stand out as an effective alternative in areas where traditional approaches are inadequate. Doped potassium sulfate (K2SO4) stands out in dosimetry applications for its high sensitivity to ionizing radiation and superior thermoluminescence (TL) properties. In this thesis, K2SO4 doped with Dy and Na was prepared using a solid-state synthesis method and its TL properties were examined after exposure to ionizing radiation. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized doped and undoped K2SO4 materials were investigated in detail using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses. The results demonstrated that an orthorhombic pure K2SO4 structure with a homogeneous particle size distribution was successfully obtained by the solid-state synthesis method. In this study, the TL radiation curves and modelling, thermal stability, absorbed dose-dependent peak behaviour, fading properties, reusability, and trap parameters of undoped and doped K2SO4 samples were investigated in detail. TL measurements were performed using a DA-20 model Risø TL/OSL reader equipped with a 90Y-90Sr beta source. The TL mechanisms of the optimal dose response curves and the corresponding dosimetric peaks were investigated based on the obtained radiation curves. The results indicate that doped K2SO4 can be used as an alternative dosimetric material to commercial TLDs when appropriate doping ratios and synthesis conditions are met.