Physical properties of PEG coated Y doped ZnO nanoparticles and their potential as high gamma dose thermoluminescence material

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to synthesize the Yttrium doped PEG-coated ZnO nanostructures and characterize them especially as thermoluminescence material for gamma dosimetry. The dosimetry characteristics were evaluated by irradiating the sample with gamma radiation with different doses (10 and 100 Gray) at a temperature range of 0–400 °C. Methods: Uncoated undoped ZnO NPs and PEG-coated ZnO Nanoparticles (NPs) with 0, 5, 7, and 10 at% Yttrium (Y) doping concentration were synthesized via hydrothermal technique. Synthesized nanoparticles were examined through various characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, EDS, UV, Tyndall test and TLD) for their morphology, PEG-coating confirmation and to evaluate their Thermoluminescence properties. Results: XRD analysis confirmed the wurtzite hexagonal structure and doping of Yttrium into ZnO. SEM analysis showed PEG-coated ZnO has well-rounded nanoplates <100 nm confirming the successful growth inhibition of PEG working as surfactant. The particle size was found to grows with increasing Y concentration. UV visible results reveal an increase in the optical band gap of ZnO with Yttrium doping. With doping, TL response has enhanced significantly, and glow peak shifted towards higher temperature. TL analysis showed two broad peaks following the second-order of kinetics and five traps with activation energies 1.25, 0.87, 0.75, 0.82, 1.99 eV, present in the Y doped ZnO. Conclusions: Y doped ZnO is a suitable candidate for high-dose thermoluminescence dosimetry.