Nanostructured carbon-doped α-Al2O3 microspheres: Scalable synthesis and luminescence properties

This study presents a novel method of synthesizing alumina doped with carbon through the scalable spray drying process. In the first step nanostructured Al(OH) 3 microspheres are synthesized by spray drying with excellent flowability, narrow size distribution, and controlled morphology. Sintering of Al(OH) 3 microspheres at 1400°C produced the α-Al 2 O 3 phase which is carbon doped by immersing sintered samples in acetone, followed by heat treatment at 900°C. UV-Vis spectra confirmed the formation of F and F + centers corroborating the incorporation of oxygen vacancy in the Al 2 O 3 lattice. The synthesized microspheres have been characterized using XRD, SAXS and other techniques. Preliminary studies are also reported on the thermoluminescence measurements which indicate that the synthesized α-Al 2 O 3 :C microspheres can be tailored for high-dose dosimetry applications, with the potential for more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable production compared to traditional synthesis methods. • Developed a scalable method for Al(OH)₃ microgranules. • Synthesized porous Al(OH)₃ using SDS for carbon incorporation. • SDS had no structural impact on γ-/α-Al₂O₃ phases. • Carbon doping via acetone-assisted treatment. • α-Al₂O₃:C showed 180°C TL peak at 5 Gy.