Oxidation/Reduction Effects on the Thermoluminescence of α-Al2O3 Single Crystals
Abstract
α-Al2O3 crystals were treated in different atmospheres (reducing/oxidising) at high temperature and their optical, positron-annihilation and thermoluminescent (TL) properties were investigated. From optical absorption and positron-annihilation spectra we concluded that aluminium-vacancies were created while oxygen-vacancies were destroyed in oxidised samples indicating a Schottky-type disorder. Structural changes were correlated with TL glow curves and the origin of some TL peaks was explained.