Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Perovskite Semiconductor-Based High-Flux Neutron Detector with BN Converter

Abstract

Neutrons are analyzed in various fields such as space exploration, neutron radiography, and medicine. When neutrons are employed, a neutron detector is required to control the exposure dose. However, issues such as detector radiation tolerance, response linearity, and γ-ray noise limit the development of effective neutron detectors. Metal halide perovskite based direct conversion radiation detectors exhibit attractive characteristics such as being solution-processable at low temperatures and possessing tunable band gaps, low trap density, high charge carrier mobility, high radiation tolerance, and fast responses. The perovskite device’s potential for high-flux neutron applications has not been greatly determined; however, only related research has been conducted thus far. Here, we demonstrate a hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite semiconductor based neutron detector that satisfies all high-flux neutron detection requirements. The perovskite device was designed to possess a structure similar to that of solar cells and could be driven solely by the built-in potential, without an applied voltage. Using this perovskite device, a neutron detector was designed to maximize the efficiency of the back side conversion configuration and minimize sensitivity variations. Experiments on irradiation with the spectrum neutrons and calculations of the reaction rates revealed a 25 meV neutron sensitivity of 6.0 × 10–17 A n–1 cm–2 and a detection limit of 106 n cm–2 s–1. Further, an optical response test showed that a dynamic detection range with 6–7 orders of magnitude was realized. The detection characteristics for high-flux neutrons indicated a stable operation with no degradation during neutron irradiation at a fluence of −1012 cm–2. Moreover, noise from γ-rays had an insignificant effect on the accuracy of the neutron flux measurements. These results highlight that the proposed neutron detector based on a perovskite solar cell is a suitable monitoring sensor for high-flux neutrons.

Large Scale BN‐perovskite Nanocomposite Aerogel Scintillator for Thermal Neutron Detection

“…For example, a layer of neutron capture isotopes ( 6 Li, 10 B) was coated on the surface of charged particle detectors, or the isotopes were loaded into bulk scintillators made of glass or plastic materials. [12][13][14][15][16][17] Further, 6 Li and 10 B based compound devices or scintillators such as Cs 2 LiYCl 6 :Ce and 6 LiInP 2 Se 6 have been developed. [18][19][20] In addition, the applications such as nuclear power plants and oil wells require thermal neutron detectors working in harsh radiation environments with high radiation exposure or high temperatures.…”

Study of a metal-halide perovskite CsPbBr3 thin film deposited on a 10B layer for neutron detection

“…In previous studies, the combination of MHPs with 10 B for thermal neutron detection has been explored and shown to offer significant advantages due to MHPs' excellent optoelectronic properties and 10 B's high neutron capture capability [38][39][40][41][42]. In our work, we propose a bi-layer structure consisting of a 10 B layer and a CsPbBr 3 -based film, created using laser ablation (LA) deposition.…”

Radiation-Tolerant Proton Detector Based on the MAPbBr3 Single Crystal

“…Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have attracted increasing interest in radiation detection in recent years, as this type of material has good carrier transport properties, large stopping power, low fabrication costs, and high radiation tolerance. , To date, the detectors based on MHPs have been realized to detect X-, γ-, and β-rays, alpha particles, and neutrons, and some of these studies have shown the high radiation tolerance of the detectors. − For instance, the performance of the perovskite γ-ray detector reported by Wei et al showed no appreciable degradation after a high accumulated irradiation dose of 350 Gy (about 3.5 million chest X-ray exams) . On a separate note, the perovskite materials were also assessed for the proton radiation tolerance in solar cell structures.…”