A boron-doped alumina (Al
2O
3:B) dosimeter was developed for thermal neutron dosimetry. The Al
2O
3:B was synthesized by a sol-gel method, and annealed up to 1200°C. The ratio of B to Al in the Al
2O
3:B was 0.1. For X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the diffraction pattern of the Al
2O
3:B at 500°C had broad reflex peaks corresponding to the crystalline structure of γ-Al
2O
3. The XRD pattern at 1200°C had reflex peaks corresponding to the crystalline structures of α-Al
2O
3 and Al
18B
4O
33. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) property of the Al
2O
3:B had satisfactory linearity in X-ray dose measurement.
Several type dosimeters, Al
2O
3, Al
2O
3:B, and Al
2O
3:B with Cd foils, were set in a thermal neutron field. It was confirmed from their responses that the response of Al
2O
3:B was originated from
10B(n,α)
7Li reactions.
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