Influence of the preparation route on the optical properties of dosimetric phosphors based on rare-earth doped polycrystalline strontium borates

Most of commercial dosimetric phosphors consist of suitably doped polycrystalline compounds. Whereas the activation issue has been usually addressed, less attention has been paid to the influence of host preparation in the final performance of the products. In this paper different routes have been followed to synthesise phosphors based on rare-earth doped strontium borates. The structural and optical properties of the materials have been given special consideration. Finally, thermoluminescence glow curves have been recorded in order to assess which of the preparation routes yields the most efficient compound. (C) 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.