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Li P, Cheng W, Zhou Y, Zhao D, Liu J, Li L, Ouyang X, Liu B, Jia W, Xu Q, Ostrikov KK. Large Scale BN-perovskite Nanocomposite Aerogel Scintillator for Thermal Neutron Detection. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2209452. [PMID: 36974596 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
State-of-the-art thermal neutron scintillation detectors rely on rare isotopes for neutron capture, lack stability and scalability of solid-state scintillation devices, and poorly discriminate between the neutron and gamma rays. The boron nitride (BN)-CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocomposite aerogel scintillator enables discriminative detection of thermal neutrons, features the largest known size (9 cm across), the lowest density (0.17 g cm-3 ) among the existing scintillation materials, high BN (50%) perovskite (1%) contents, high optical transparency (85%), and excellent radiation stability. The new detection mechanism relies on thermal neutron capture by 10 B and effective energy transfer from the charged particles to visible-range scintillation photons between the densely packed BN and CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. Low density minimizes the gamma ray response. The neutrons and gamma rays are discriminated by complete decoupling of the respective single pulses in time and intensity. These outcomes open new avenues for neutron detection in resource exploration, clean energy, environmental, aerospace, and homeland security applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
| | - Wei Cheng
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
| | - Dong Zhao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an, 710024, China
| | - Lingxi Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
| | - Xiaoping Ouyang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan, 411105, China
| | - Bo Liu
- School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wenbao Jia
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
| | - Qiang Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan, 411105, China
| | - Kostya Ken Ostrikov
- School of Chemistry and Physics and Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, 4000, Australia
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Basiricò L, Fratelli I, Verdi M, Ciavatti A, Barba L, Cesarini O, Bais G, Polentarutti M, Chiari M, Fraboni B. Mixed 3D-2D Perovskite Flexible Films for the Direct Detection of 5 MeV Protons. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 10:e2204815. [PMID: 36437046 PMCID: PMC9811469 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study reports on a novel, flexible, proton beam detector based on mixed 3D-2D perovskite films deposited by solution onto thin plastic foils. The 3D-2D mixture allows to obtain micrometer-thick and highly uniform films that constitute the detector's active layer. The devices demonstrate excellent flexibility with stable electric transport properties down to a bending radius of 3.1 mm. The detector is characterized under a 5 MeV proton beam with fluxes in the range [4.5 × 105 - 1.4 × 109 ] H+ cm-2 s-1 , exhibiting a stable response to repetitive irradiation cycles with sensitivity up to (290 ± 40) nC Gy-1 mm-3 and a limit of detection down to (72±2) µGy s-1 . The detector radiation tolerance is also assessed up to a total of 1.7 × 1012 protons impinging on the beam spot area, with a maximum variation of the detector's response of 14%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Basiricò
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of BolognaBologna40127Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsINFN section of BolognaBologna40127Italy
| | - Ilaria Fratelli
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of BolognaBologna40127Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsINFN section of BolognaBologna40127Italy
| | - Matteo Verdi
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of BolognaBologna40127Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsINFN section of BolognaBologna40127Italy
| | - Andrea Ciavatti
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of BolognaBologna40127Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsINFN section of BolognaBologna40127Italy
| | - Luisa Barba
- National Council of ResearchInstitute of CrystallographyTrieste34149Italy
| | - Olivia Cesarini
- National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsINFNLaboratori Nazionali di LegnaroLegnaro35020Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Chiari
- National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsINFN section of FirenzeSesto Fiorentino50019Italy
| | - Beatrice Fraboni
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of BolognaBologna40127Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsINFN section of BolognaBologna40127Italy
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Fratelli I, Ciavatti A, Zanazzi E, Basiricò L, Chiari M, Fabbri L, Anthony JE, Quaranta A, Fraboni B. Direct detection of 5-MeV protons by flexible organic thin-film devices. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/16/eabf4462. [PMID: 33863730 PMCID: PMC8051878 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf4462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The direct detection of 5-MeV protons by flexible organic detectors based on thin films is here demonstrated. The organic devices act as a solid-state detector, in which the energy released by the protons within the active layer of the sensor is converted into an electrical current. These sensors can quantitatively and reliably measure the dose of protons impinging on the sensor both in real time and in integration mode. This study shows how to detect and exploit the energy absorbed both by the organic semiconducting layer and by the plastic substrate, allowing to extrapolate information on the present and past irradiation of the detector. The measured sensitivity, S = (5.15 ± 0.13) pC Gy-1, and limit of detection, LOD = (30 ± 6) cGy s-1, of the here proposed detectors assess their efficacy and their potential as proton dosimeters in several fields of application, such as in medical proton therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Fratelli
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
- INFN-Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciavatti
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
- INFN-Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Zanazzi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, I-38123 Povo, Trento, Italy
- INFN-TIFPA, Via Sommarive 14, I-38123 Povo, Trento, Italy
| | - Laura Basiricò
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
- INFN-Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimo Chiari
- INFN-Florence, Via G. Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Fabbri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
- INFN-Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - John E Anthony
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Alberto Quaranta
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, I-38123 Povo, Trento, Italy
- INFN-TIFPA, Via Sommarive 14, I-38123 Povo, Trento, Italy
| | - Beatrice Fraboni
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
- INFN-Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
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Taifakou FE, Ali M, Borowiec J, Liu X, Finn PA, Nielsen CB, Timis C, Nooney T, Bevan A, Kreouzis T. Solution-Processed Donor-Acceptor Poly(3-hexylthiophene):Phenyl-C 61-butyric Acid Methyl Ester Diodes for Low-Voltage α Particle Detection. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:6470-6479. [PMID: 33527828 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c22210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diodes fabricated using a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (6-80 μm thick) as an organic semiconductor component achieved consistent 4 MeV α particle detection. Current-voltage characteristics and current-time measurements were obtained under α irradiation and in its absence. Steady-state and transient (time-of-flight) photoconduction measurements were additionally performed. Low-bias (<20 V) α particle detection gain-efficiency products of order 10-2 were measured. The α particle detection was achieved reproducibly, reversibly, and repeatably in different devices of varying organic semiconductor layer thicknesses using both the steady-state and time-dependent (dynamic) diode responses. Conductive gain, due to trapped electrons, increased the α particle gain-efficiency product in both forward and reverse bias conditions as well as increasing steady-state photoconduction. The device thickness was optimized to maximize the gain-efficiency product by matching the penetration depth of the α particle, obtained by modeling, to the organic semiconductor layer thickness. Very high confidence α particle detection was achieved (with signal-to-noise ratios exceeding 20) under optimized device dimensions and drive conditions. Hecht function fitting of the gain-efficiency product versus electric field data returns mobility-lifetime products of order 10-6-10-7 cm2 V-1. This work demonstrates that solution-processed organic semiconductor diodes are viable for low-voltage α particle detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fani Eirini Taifakou
- Particle Physics Research Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Ali
- Particle Physics Research Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Borowiec
- Particle Physics Research Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
- College of Physics, Sichuan University, 610064 Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqi Liu
- Centre for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Peter A Finn
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Christian B Nielsen
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Cozmin Timis
- Particle Physics Research Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Tamsin Nooney
- Particle Physics Research Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Bevan
- Particle Physics Research Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Theo Kreouzis
- Particle Physics Research Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
- Centre for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
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