High sensitivity, solid state neutron detector
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1179226
- Patent Number(s):
- 9029792
- Application Number:
- 14/026,429
- Assignee:
- lliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Golden, CO)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2013 Sep 13
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
Citation Formats
Stradins, Pauls, Branz, Howard M, Wang, Qi, and McHugh, Harold R. High sensitivity, solid state neutron detector. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web.
Stradins, Pauls, Branz, Howard M, Wang, Qi, & McHugh, Harold R. High sensitivity, solid state neutron detector. United States.
Stradins, Pauls, Branz, Howard M, Wang, Qi, and McHugh, Harold R. Tue .
"High sensitivity, solid state neutron detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1179226.
@article{osti_1179226,
title = {High sensitivity, solid state neutron detector},
author = {Stradins, Pauls and Branz, Howard M and Wang, Qi and McHugh, Harold R},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 12 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Tue May 12 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}
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