Formation and EPR response of europium-yttria micro rods

Abstract

Designing new materials with suitable dose-response efficiency is a great challenge in radiation dosimetry search. Yttria (Y₂O₃) has excellent optical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. Besides, yttria exhibits crystal characteristics that provide insertion of other rare earths, forming innovative materials. Nevertheless, there are quite few studies on formation, microstructural and EPR response evaluation of yttria. This work reports the formation and EPR characterization of europium-yttria micro rods for radiation dosimetry. Ceramic rods obtained by sintering at 1600ºC/4h in air were exposed to gamma radiation with doses from 1Gy to 150kGy. Particle, microstructural and dosimetry characterizations were performed by PCS, XRD, SEM, OM, and EPR techniques. As sintered europium-yttrium rods exhibited dense microstructure (90% theoretical density) and linear EPR dose response behavior up to 10kGy. These results show that europium-yttria is a promising material for radiation dosimetry.