Thermoluminescent Properties of Tridymite SiO2 : Al3+, Eu3+

SiO₂ crystals have been used in electroluminescence devices and thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeters. However, their emission mechanisms have not yet been clearly explained. Recently, it has become possible to obtain amorphous, highly pure, SiO₂ prepared by the sol-gel method. The emission mechanism of TL was investigated using Al³⁺ and/or Eu³⁺-doped SiO₂ crystalline samples prepared by heat-treating under much lower temperature than the melting point of SiO₂. The TL spectrum of Eu³⁺-doped sample had main peaks due to the electron transitions from ⁵D₂ to ⁷F₅ (ca. 570 nm, yellow peak) and from ⁵D₀ to ⁷F₂ (ca. 610 nm, red peak). The yellow peak intensity has a maximum value in the SiO₂ doped with near 1 mmol% of Eu₂O₃, while the red peak intensity was almost constant. These facts suggest that bright yellow emission of SiO₂TL phosphor is synthesized by the diffusion of Eu³⁺ ion in SiO₂ matrix prepared by sol-gel method.