Photo and thermoluminescence of KMgSO4 F: Ce and :Mn phosphors

KMgSO4 F:Ce and KMgSO4 F:Mn phosphors were prepared by a wet chemical method and studied for their photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics. PL emission of KMgSO4 F:Ce peaked at around 440 nm for the excitation at 377 nm due to 5d → 4f transition, while KMgSO4 F:Mn had a peak at 540 nm for an excitation at 363 nm and 247 nm due to (4) T1g  → (6) A1g transition. The phosphors also showed good thermoluminescence characteristics when they were exposed to γ-rays at a 5 Gy dose at the rate of 0.36 kGyh(-1) . KMgSO4 F:Ce exhibited a single thermoluminescence (TL) peak at around 167 °C and KMgSO4 F:Mn also exhibited a single TL peak at around 177 °C. Possible trapping parameters such as order of kinetics (b), the geometrical factor (μg ), the frequency factor (s) and the activation energy were also evaluated by Chen's half width method. This article discusses fundamental PL and TL characteristics in inorganic fluoride material activated by Ce(3+) and Mn(2+) ions and prepared by a wet chemical method.