Development of Samarium-Doped Nanoparticles of Lithium, Calcium, and Aluminum Fluoride for Applications in Radiophotoluminescence Dosimetry

• Grant number: 25/01148-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Éder José Guidelli
• Grantee: Carolina França e Castilho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

New techniques and dosimetry equipment are topics of great interest in research due to their role in the quantification of ionizing radiation. In this context, the main goal is to develop more sensitive and stable dosimeters to ensure greater safety in environments where exposure to such radiation occurs, such as in the medical field. Among the most commonly used materials for dosimetry, there are fluorides, which, when doped with other elements, exhibit various luminescent properties that enable better radiation detectors, such as thermoluminescence (TL), optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and radio-photoluminescence (RPL). Moreover, when materials are used at the nanoscale, it is easier to explore the different ways in which the compounds interact with radiation, as these characteristic can provide higher sensitivity to the dose. The aim of this project is to develop nanoparticles containing lithium, calcium, and aluminum fluoride (LiCaAlF6) doped with samarium (Sm), in order to explore their dosimetric and luminescent properties. Specifically, the focus will be on their performance in radiophotoluminescence, a promising technique that offers greater stability in radiation dose readings.