Ag concentration dependence of the radiophotoluminescence properties in Ag-doped Na–Al borate glasses

Radiophotoluminescence (RPL) is the phenomenon of emission from luminescence centers formed by ionizing radiation and is utilized as the principle of luminescent-type dosimeters. In this study, we investigated the Ag concentration dependence of the RPL properties of Ag-doped Na–Al borate glass to find optimal Ag concentration for dosimeter application. In all samples, a broad emission band peaking at 650 nm was observed after X-ray irradiation. The sensitivity was in the order of 0.4 < 1.0 < 8.0 < 2.0 < 4.0 mol%. Hence, the optimal Ag concentration for personal dosimetry, which requires high sensitivity, was found to be 4.0 mol%. In addition, saturation of the RPL intensity occurred at a lower dose in glass with a higher concentration of Ag. Therefore, the glass with lower Ag concentration was thought to be appropriate for dosimeter used in high dose environments. In addition, the time to complete build-up tended to increase in the glass with a higher Ag concentration. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the RPL centers improved in the glass with a higher concentration of Ag. • The sodium aluminoborate glass containing 4.0 mol% of Ag exhibited the highest sensitivity. • Saturation of the RPL intensity occurred at a lower dose in glass with a higher concentration of Ag. • The time to complete build-up tended to increase in the glass with a higher Ag concentration. • Thermal stability of the RPL centers improved in the glass with a higher concentration of Ag.