Device fabrication, characterization, and thermal neutron detection response of LiZnP and LiZnAs semiconductor devices
Abstract
Nowotny-Juza compounds continue to be explored as candidates for solid-state neutron detectors. Such a device would have greater efficiency, in a compact form, than present day gas-filled 3He and 10BF3 detectors. The 6Li(n,t)4He reaction yields a total Q-value of 4.78 MeV, larger than 10B, an energy easily identified above background radiations. Hence, devices fabricated from semiconductor compounds having either natural Li (nominally 7.5% 6Li) or enriched 6Li (usually 95% 6Li) as constituent atoms may provide a material for compact high efficiency neutron detectors. Starting material was synthesized by preparing equimolar portions of Li, Zn, and As sealed under vacuum (10-6 Torr) in quartz ampoules lined with boron nitride and subsequently reacted in a compounding furnace [1]. The raw synthesized material indicated the presence high impurity levels (material and electrical property characterizations). A static vacuum sublimation in quartz was performed to help purify the synthesized material [2], [3]. Bulk crystalline samples were grown from the purified material [4], [5]. Samples were cut using a diamond wire saw, and processed into devices. Bulk resistivity was determined from I–V curve measurements, ranging from 106–1011 Ω cm. Devices were characterized for sensitivity to 5.48 MeV alpha particles, 337 nm laser light, and neutron sensitivitymore »
- Authors:
-
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States). Semiconductor Materials and Radiological Technologies (S.M.A.R.T) Lab. Dept. of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1532882
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1397734
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FG52-08NA28766; # DE-FEG52-08NA28766
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 836; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; lithium compounds; radiation; neutron detector; semiconducting ternary compounds
Citation Formats
Montag, Benjamin W., Ugorowski, Philip B., Nelson, Kyle A., Edwards, Nathaniel S., and McGregor, Douglas S. Device fabrication, characterization, and thermal neutron detection response of LiZnP and LiZnAs semiconductor devices. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2016.08.037.
Montag, Benjamin W., Ugorowski, Philip B., Nelson, Kyle A., Edwards, Nathaniel S., & McGregor, Douglas S. Device fabrication, characterization, and thermal neutron detection response of LiZnP and LiZnAs semiconductor devices. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.08.037
Montag, Benjamin W., Ugorowski, Philip B., Nelson, Kyle A., Edwards, Nathaniel S., and McGregor, Douglas S. Sat .
"Device fabrication, characterization, and thermal neutron detection response of LiZnP and LiZnAs semiconductor devices". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.08.037. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1532882.
@article{osti_1532882,
title = {Device fabrication, characterization, and thermal neutron detection response of LiZnP and LiZnAs semiconductor devices},
author = {Montag, Benjamin W. and Ugorowski, Philip B. and Nelson, Kyle A. and Edwards, Nathaniel S. and McGregor, Douglas S.},
abstractNote = {Nowotny-Juza compounds continue to be explored as candidates for solid-state neutron detectors. Such a device would have greater efficiency, in a compact form, than present day gas-filled 3He and 10BF3 detectors. The 6Li(n,t)4He reaction yields a total Q-value of 4.78 MeV, larger than 10B, an energy easily identified above background radiations. Hence, devices fabricated from semiconductor compounds having either natural Li (nominally 7.5% 6Li) or enriched 6Li (usually 95% 6Li) as constituent atoms may provide a material for compact high efficiency neutron detectors. Starting material was synthesized by preparing equimolar portions of Li, Zn, and As sealed under vacuum (10-6 Torr) in quartz ampoules lined with boron nitride and subsequently reacted in a compounding furnace [1]. The raw synthesized material indicated the presence high impurity levels (material and electrical property characterizations). A static vacuum sublimation in quartz was performed to help purify the synthesized material [2], [3]. Bulk crystalline samples were grown from the purified material [4], [5]. Samples were cut using a diamond wire saw, and processed into devices. Bulk resistivity was determined from I–V curve measurements, ranging from 106–1011 Ω cm. Devices were characterized for sensitivity to 5.48 MeV alpha particles, 337 nm laser light, and neutron sensitivity in a thermal neutron diffracted beam at the Kansas State University TRIGA Mark II nuclear reactor. Thermal neutron reaction product charge induction was measured with a LiZnP device, and the reaction product spectral response was observed.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2016.08.037},
journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
number = ,
volume = 836,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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