Luminescence And EPR Studies Of TMI Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

Pure ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized by cost effective low temperature solution combustion method in a short time using ODH fuel. The average particle size of the synthesized powder determined by Debye-Scherrer's formula is found to be in the range 14-51 nm which was confirmed by W-H plots and TEM results. The PL spectrum of ZnO nanopowders gives the near band edge UV emission and defect related blue and green emissions. EPR studies also confirmed the Presence of defects in ZnO nanopowders. TL glow curves of gamma irradiated ZnO nanoparticles show a broad peak at 343 C, which is attributed to the recombination of charge carriers released from the surface states associated with oxygen defects, mainly interstitial oxygen ion centers, for a -dose range of 10-50 Gy. It is observed that the glow peak intensity increases with increase of gamma dose without changing glow curve shape. These two characteristic properties such as TL intensity increases with gamma dose and simple glow curve structure are indications that the combustion synthesized ZnO nanopowder might be used as a good TL dosimeter for high temperature applications.