Thermoluminescence (TL) and photoluminescence (PL) properties of KY 3 F 10 :Ho 3+ phosphor powder is reported. The TL measurements were carried out for different heating rates and for various durations of UV exposure. The TL intensity increases with the duration of UV exposure up to 20 min and then decreases. A decrease of the glow peak height was observed for the glow curves with an increasing heating rate. The area under the TL-time plot is calculated for each heating rate at a constant UV dose and it is found to be constant and independent of the heating rate. It is found that the observed decrement in intensity of each glow curve following an increment in the heating rate is not attributed to the thermal quenching effect. Important TL kinetic parameters namely, the activation energy (E) and the frequency factor (s) were calculated using a variable heating rate (VHR) method. The glow peaks obey first order kinetics. PL emission spectra were also investigated at four main excitation wavelengths; namely, 362, 416, 454 and 486 nm. Green emission at 540 nm and faint red emission at 750 nm were observed for all the excitations. The green emission at 540 nm is ascribed to the 5 F 4 -5 I 8 and 5 S 2 -5 I 8 transitions and the faint red emission at 750 nm is due to the 5 F 4 -5 I 7 and 5 S 2 -5 I 7 transitions. In addition to the sharp green emission at 540 nm, a broad emission centered at 600 nm was observed for excitation wavelength of 362 nm.

In this study, the structural, electronic, elastic, phonon vibration, thermodynamic features, and optical properties of the orthorhombic phase of (space group Pnma) C a H f S 3 were examined by first-principles calculations utilizing the plane wave ultrasoft pseudopotentials in generalized gradient approximations (GGAs) and with Hubbard on-site correction (DFT + U). To improve the value of the band gap, the exchange correlation potential is also approximated with Hubbard correction (GGA + U). The equilibrium state properties such as lattice parameters, unit cell volume, bulk modulus, and its derivative were calculated and are in good agreement with the existing data. The mechanical properties such as bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, and elastic anisotropy were determined from the obtained elastic constants. The ratio of bulk modulus to shear modulus confirms that the orthorhombic phase of C a H f S 3 is a ductile material. In addition, the longitudinal sound velocity, transverse sound velocity, and Debye temperature for C a H f S 3 have been computed. The absence of negative frequencies in the phonon dispersion curve and the phonon density of states confirm that C a H f S 3 in the orthorhombic phase is dynamically stable. The thermodynamic parameters such as free energy, entropy, and heat capacity were examined with variations in temperature. Finally, the absorption coefficient, dielectric constant, energy loss function, reflectivity, and refractive index are discussed in detail in the spectral range 0–1.6 Ry (21.77 eV). The polarizations along (100), (010), and (001) directions significantly show different optical responses.

The effect of retrapping on thermoluminescence intensity peak corresponding to each trap of small amorphous silicon quantum dots in three traps -one recombination center model is investigated. For first order kinetics, where there is no effect of retrapping, the thermoluminescence intensity clearly depends on the level of the trap beneath the edge of the conduction band. This energy difference between the edge of the conduction band and the level of the trap is called trap depth (activation energy). The shallowest trap gives the highest thermoluminescence intensity peak for first order kinetics. However, it was clearly observed that for second order and a case beyond second order kinetics, the thermoluminescence intensity peak corresponding to each trap does not depend on the trap depth. In this case, the retrapping probability coefficients are taken into account and most electrons which are detrapped from the shallow trap(s) will be retrapped to the deeper trap(s) resulting in fewer electrons taking part in the recombination process. This significantly reduces the thermoluminescence intensity peaks of the shallower trap(s). It was observed that the deepest trap, with very high concentration of electrons due to the retrapping phenomenon, gives the highest thermoluminescence intensity. In addition, the variation of concentration of electrons in each trap and the intensity of the thermoluminescence are presented. Though we considered the model of three traps and one recombination center, this phenomenon is true for any multiple traps.

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