Fluor-containing nanoparticle suspensions prepared from styrene-in-water microemulsions were used to
quantify 14C
in various sample matrices by aqueous liquid scintillation counting. These
suspensions exhibited greater quench resistance than a conventional
organic cocktail and were very efficient at detecting higher energy
β− emitters
and α
emitters. A polymerizable scintillant was prepared to prevent leaching
of fluors. The relationship between particle size, kinetic energy of
β−
particles and counting efficiency was simulated by a theoretical model.