We explore the utility of controlled low-doses (0.2-100 Gy) of photon irradiation as initiators of structural alteration in carbon-rich materials. To-date our work on carbon has focused on β-, x- and γ-irradiations and the monitoring of radiotherapeutic doses (from a few Gy up to some tens of Gy) on the basis of the thermoluminescence (TL) signal, also via Raman and X-ray photo-spectroscopy (XPS), providing analysis of the dose dependence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). The work has been extended herein to investigate possibilities for analysis of structural alterations in graphite-rich mixtures, use being made of two grades of graphite-rich pencil lead, 8H and 2B, both being in the form produced for mechanical pencils (propelling or clutch pencils). 2B has the greater graphite content (approaching 98 wt %), 8H being a mixture of C, O, Al and Si (with respective weight percentages 39.2, 38.2, 9.8 and 12.8). Working on media pre-annealed at 400 °C, both have subsequently been irradiated to penetrating photon-mediated doses. Raman spectroscopy analysis has been carried out using a 532 nm laser Raman spectrometer, while for samples irradiated to doses from 1 to 40 Gy, XPS spectra were acquired using Al Kα sources (hv ∼1400 eV); carbon KLL Auger peaks were acquired using 50 eV Pass Energy. At these relatively low doses, alterations in order-disorder are clearly observed, defect generation and internal annealing competing as dominating effects across the dose range.
Using irradiated doped-silica preforms from which fibres for thermoluminescence dosimetry applications can be fabricated we have carried out a range of luminescence studies, the TL yield of the fibre systems offering many advantages over conventional passive dosimetry types. In this paper we investigate such media, showing emission spectra for irradiated preforms and the TL response of glass beads following irradiation to an 241Am-Be neutron source located in a tank of water, the glass fibres and beads offering the advantage of being able to be placed directly into liquid. The outcomes from these and other lines of research are intended to inform development of doped silica radiation dosimeters of versatile utility, extending from environmental evaluations through to clinical and industrial applications.