Bin Tang,Wei Yin,Qibiao Wang,Long Chen,Heyong Huo,Yang Wu,Hongchao Yang,Chenghua Sun,Shuyun Zhou
High-resolution neutron radiography provides novel and stirring opportunities to investigate the structures of light elements encased by heavy elements. For this study, a series of Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles were prepared using a high-temperature solid phase method and then used as a scintillation screen. Upon reaching 293 nm excitation, a bright green emission originated from the Tb3+luminescence center. The level of F doping affected the fluorescence intensity. When the F doping level was 8 mol%, the fluorescence intensity was at its highest. The absolute quantum yield of the synthesized particles reached as high as 77.21%. Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles were applied to the scintillation screen, showing a resolution on the neutron radiograph as high as 12 μm. These results suggest that the highly efficient Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles are promising scintillators for the purposes of cold neutron radiography.
Xunsheng Zhou,Binqing Zhao,Lu Yao,Wanting Gui,Longfei Chen,Chao Li,Shi Zhang,Cai Lin Wang
Eutectic scintillators with 6Li-containing thermal neutron absorbers are capable of efficient thermal neutron detection due to lamellar or rod-like optical waveguide structures formed by directional solidification. However, developing stable and bright eutectic scintillators with excellent neutron imaging capability remains a challenge. Here, the performance parameters for the scintillator have been substantially improved by the Al3+ codoping strategy in the LiF-CaF2:Eu2+ system. Due to the Al3+ codoping, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) is enhanced from 55% to 80%, the light yield is increased from 11,000 to 16,000 photons/thermal neutron, and the scintillation decay time is shortened by about 30 ns. It was shown that Al3+ codoping can effectively reduce the low-frequency shallow-energy level traps. Furthermore, large-sized (50 × 50 × 1.5 mm) translucent LiF-CaF2:Eu2+, Al3+ eutectic ceramics have been fabricated for an Anger-logic position-sensitive detector to realize two-dimensional (2D) thermal neutron detection. A codoped LiF-CaF2 eutectic scintillator provides a ∼1 mm spatial resolution and thermal neutron detection efficiency 16% higher than that of a commercial GS20 scintillator. This research paves the way for the application of large-area eutectic scintillators for efficient thermal neutron detection.
Fast neutron detection is significant for neutron imaging and flux monitoring but cannot be directly achieved by inorganic semiconductors. The traditional detection is mainly mediated by an organic scintillator and a coupled photodetector, resulting in signal losses. Here, a direct detection method for fast neutrons is demonstrated based on organic semiconducting single crystals (OSSCs) detectors. Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (4MHB, C 6 H 5 O-COOCH 3 ) and 4-hydroxycyanobenzene (4HCB, C 6 H 5 O-CN). The organic semiconductor acts as a fast neutron sensitive material due to its high hydrogen density, simultaneously as a semiconductor that generates the electric signal. The detectors based on 4MHB crystals can quantitatively measure the dose and energy of the fast neutron flux with a response time of 0.5 µs and detection efficiency of 78.5% cm −3 . Effects of functional groups on fast neutron detection performances are also investigated as a guideline to synthesis new molecules for this purpose. Furthermore, neutron radiation effects on these detectors are investigated. Hydrogen-related point defects are generated by fast neutrons, but device performances remain robust after irradiation of 10 13 n cm −2 fast neutrons. This study demonstrates that OSSCs show great potential as direct fast neutron detectors and particularly have highly-localized and tissue-equivalent properties that benefit neutron imaging and cancer therapy applications.
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）