High sensitivity, solid state neutron detector

Stradins, Pauls; Branz, Howard M; Wang, Qi; McHugh, Harold R

Title: High sensitivity, solid state neutron detector

Patent · Tue May 12 00:00:00 EDT 2015

OSTI ID:1179226

Stradins, Pauls; Branz, Howard M; Wang, Qi; McHugh, Harold R

An apparatus (200) for detecting slow or thermal neutrons (160). The apparatus (200) includes an alpha particle-detecting layer (240) that is a hydrogenated amorphous silicon p-i-n diode structure. The apparatus includes a bottom metal contact (220) and a top metal contact (250) with the diode structure (240) positioned between the two contacts (220, 250) to facilitate detection of alpha particles (170). The apparatus (200) includes a neutron conversion layer (230) formed of a material containing boron-10 isotopes. The top contact (250) is pixilated with each contact pixel extending to or proximate to an edge of the apparatus to facilitate electrical contacting. The contact pixels have elongated bodies to allow them to extend across the apparatus surface (242) with each pixel having a small surface area to match capacitance based upon a current spike detecting circuit or amplifier connected to each pixel. The neutron conversion layer (860) may be deposited on the contact pixels (830) such as with use of inkjet printing of nanoparticle ink.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

DOE Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

Assignee:: lliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Golden, CO)

Patent Number(s):: 9,029,792

Application Number:: 14/026,429

OSTI ID:: 1179226

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2013 Sep 13

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (24)

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