FY05 LDRD Final ReportNanomaterials for Radiation Detection

Wang, T F ; Letant, S E ; Nikolic, R J ; Chueng, C L

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

关键词: Efficiency;    Neutron Detection;    Geometry;    36 Materials Science;    Simulation;   

DOI  :  10.2172/883614
RP-ID  :  UCRL-TR-218736
RP-ID  :  W-7405-ENG-48
RP-ID  :  883614

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

We have demonstrated that it is possible to enhance current radiation detection capability by manipulating the materials at the nano level. Fabrication of three-dimensional (3-D) nanomaterial composite for radiation detection has great potential benefits over current semiconductor- and scintillation-based technologies because of the precise control of material-radiation interaction and modulation of signal output. It is also a significant leap beyond current 2-D nanotechnology. Moreover, since we are building the materials using a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches, this strategy to make radiation detection materials can provide significant improvement to radiation-detection technologies, which are currently based on difficult-to-control bulk crystal growth techniques. We are applying this strategy to tackle two important areas in radiation detection: gamma-rays and neutrons. In gamma-ray detection, our first goal is to employ nanomaterials in the form of quantum-dot-based mixed matrices or nanoporous semiconductors to achieve scintillation output several times over that from NaI(Tl) crystals. In neutron detection, we are constructing a 3-D structure using a doped nanowire ''forest'' supported by a boron matrix and evaluating the detection efficiency of different device geometry with simulation.