Paramagnetic Defects and Thermoluminescence in Irradiated Nanostructured Monoclinic Zirconium Dioxide.

The ESR spectra of nanostructured samples of monoclinic ZrO irradiated by electrons with energies of 130 keV, 10 MeV, and by a beam of Xe ions (220 MeV) have been studied. It has been established that irradiation of samples with electrons (10 MeV) and ions leads to the formation of radiation-induced centers in them. Thermal destruction of these centers is observed in the temperature range of 375-550 K for electron-irradiated and 500-700 K for ion-irradiated samples.

Thermoluminescence of new AlO-BeO ceramics after exposure to high radiation doses.

New AlO-BeO ceramics were synthesized from alumina nanopowder in BeO crucibles by high-temperature treatment in reducing conditions. It was found that the TL curve of these ceramics is characterized by a dosimetric peak at 520-530 K for a heating rate of 2 K/s. The integrated TL of the peak is not influenced by the heating rate of the samples, unlike that in anion-defective alumina and beryllia crystals.

Effect of structural changes on luminescent and dosimetric properties of nanoscale aluminum oxide.

Variations of the particle size and porosity of the alumina ceramics synthesized by annealing compacted nanopowder at 1500-1700°С in vacuum for various periods of time have been studied by SEM. Particle size distributions, which depend on the conditions of the ceramics synthesis, were obtained and discussed. The formation of fine grains and the growth of their fraction with the increasing annealing temperature increase the thermoluminescence intensity and expands the usable dose range upwards.