Thermoluminescence study of YBa3(BO3)3: Trap characterization and kinetic parameters via multi-method analysis

Abstract

The thermoluminescence (TL) properties of YBa3(BO3)3 phosphor were systematically investigated to evaluate its trap characteristics and potential for radiation dosimetry applications. TL glow curves recorded at various heating rates (0.5–10 ◦C/s) exhibited two prominent peaks with unusually stable intensities, contrary to conventional TL behavior. TM–Tstop analysis revealed a complex trap structure composed of both continuous and discrete energy levels, with activation energies ranging from 1.21 to 1.91 eV, identified via the initial rise method. The impact of preheating on trap population was examined, highlighting the thermal instability of shallow traps and the robustness of deeper ones. Kinetic parameters such as activation energy, frequency factor, and kinetic order were extracted using the Variable Heating Rate (VHR) method and Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution (CGCD). For preheated glow curves, deconvolution was carried out using a first-order kinetic model (b = 1), as supported by recent simulation studies. The resulting fits showed well-isolated deep glow peaks with activation energies between ~1.12 and ~1.95 eV, in agreement with other analytical methods. The results thus confirm first-order kinetic behavior across all preheated glow curves, consistent with the stable peak positions and reliable fitting outcomes. These findings demonstrate that undoped YBa3(BO3)3 hosts thermally stable deep traps and exhibits minimal recombination loss under rapid heating, rendering it a promising candidate for high-performance TL dosimetry.