100 MeV Si8+ ion induced luminescence and thermoluminescence of nanocrystalline Mg2SiO4:Eu3+

Nanoparticles of Mg2SiO4:Eu3+ have been prepared by the solution combustion technique and the grain size estimated by PXRD is found to be in the range 40–50 nm. Ionoluminescence (IL) studies of Mg2SiO4:Eu3+ pellets bombarded with 100 MeV Si8+ ions with fluences in the range 1.124–22.48×1012 ions cm−2 are carried out at IUAC, New Delhi, India. Five prominent IL bands with peaks at 580 nm, 590 nm, 612 nm, 655 nm and 705 nm are recorded. These characteristic emissions are attributed to the luminescence centers activated by Eu3+ cations. It is found that IL intensity decreases rapidly in the beginning. Later on, the intensity decreases slowly with further increase of ion fluence. The reduction in the ionoluminescence intensity with increase of ion fluence might be attributed to degradation of Si–O (ν3) and Si–O (2ν3) bonds present on the surface of the sample. The red emission with peak at 612 nm is due to characteristic emission of 5D0→7F2 of the Eu3+ cations. Thermoluminescence (TL) studies of Mg2SiO4:Eu3+ pellets bombarded with 100 MeV Si8+ cations with fluences in the range 5×1011 ions cm−2 to 5×1013 ions cm−2 are made at RT. Two prominent and well resolved TL glows with peaks at ∼220 °C and ∼370 °C are observed. It is observed that TL intensity increases with increase of ion fluence. This might be due to creation of new traps during swift heavy ion irradiation.