Preparation methods of thermoluminescent materials for dosimetric applications: an overview

Many different natural minerals and synthetic inorganic compounds present the phenomenon of thermoluminescence (TL); however, only a part of them satisfy the requirements to be used as TL dosimeters. The mechanism of excitation energy transformation into the output of light is one of the most important points in the TL materials designing. Both the threshold detection dose and accuracy of measurements depend on the efficiency of energy transformation. The role of diverse mechanisms of energy transfer and energy losses is very different depending on the nature of the TL material and its composition including intrinsic defects and those induced by impurities. The structure of these defects can be controlled to a high extent by the preparation method. That is why the most important fact is to find the interrelations among the preparation methods, the structural defects and the TL properties of the material. The aim of this paper is to give a selected review on the preparation methods of the most popular and commercially available phosphors as well as those less used or "homemade" for special studies.