X-ray detection properties of plastic scintillators containing surface-modified Bi₂O₃nanoparticles

Abstract

Plastic scintillators containing Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles (NPs) were developed as detectors for X-ray synchrotron radiation. A hydrothermal method was used to synthesize the NPs that had average particle sizes of less than 10 nm. Higher NP concentration led to a higher detection efficiency at 67.4 keV. The light yield of the scintillator containing 5 wt % Bi 2 O 3 NPs was comparable with or higher than that of the commercially available plastic scintillator, EJ 256. The time resolution of the developed scintillation detector equipped with each sample scintillator was approximately 0.6 ns. Dispersion of nanoparticles within plastic scintillators is generally applicable and has wide application as a method for preparation of plastic scintillators for detecting X-ray synchrotron radiation.

Photoluminescence and scintillation characteristics of Bi-loaded PVK-based plastic scintillators for the high counting-rate measurement of high-energy X-rays

“…In previous studies, we successfully enhanced the detection efficiency of PS-based plastic scintillators through the addition of surface-modied HfO 2 or Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles prepared via subcritical hydrothermal synthesis. 21,28 In particular, the detection efficiency per unit thickness and the light yield of a PS-based plastic scintillator loaded with surface-modied Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles were 1.6 and 1.1 times higher, respectively, than those of EJ-256 (Eljen Technology), 33 which is loaded with 5 wt% Pb. Whereas, the detection efficiency per unit thickness and the light yield of a PS-based plastic scintillator featuring HfO 2 -loaded organosilica nanoparticles synthesized via sol-gel method were 2 and 1.2 times higher, respectively, than those of EJ-256.…”

“…Several studies have explored the addition of heavy metals to enhance the high-energy photon detection efficiency of plastic scintillators. Heavy metals, such as Zr, 16,17 Sn, 18,19 Hf, [20][21][22] Pb, 19,23,24 and Bi, [25][26][27][28][29][30] have been added to host polymers, such as polystyrene (PS), polyvinyltoluene (PVT), and poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK). 31,32 Presently, several suppliers offer commercial plastic scintillators loaded with 1-7 wt% Pb: Eljen Technology, OKEN, Saint-Gobain, or IHEP (EJ-256, NE142, BC-452, SC-223, SC-322), which are available for high-energy photon detection.…”

“…22 Bi has a higher atomic number than Pb or Hf, and for the development of plastic scintillators, has been incorporated into host polymers in various forms, e.g. nanoparticles, 28 or as constituents or inorganic compounds 27 and organometallic species. 29,30 In previous studies, triphenylbismuth (BiPh 3 ) was incorporated into PS-based plastic scintillators to enhance their high-energy photon detection efficiency.…”

A High-Sensitivity Flexible Direct X-ray Detector Based on Bi2O3/PDMS Nanocomposite Thin Film

“…Therefore, it is necessary to choose a non-toxic and environmentally friendly material. Bismuth [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] (Bi, Z = 83) has also frequently appeared in the research and, recently, for developing X-ray detectors. P. Praveenkumar et al [ 29 ] prepared signal phase Bi 5 O 7 I nanocrystals and studied their performance in X-ray detectors with a sensitivity of 1.924 × 10 −2 μC Gy air −1 cm − 2 .…”

Fabrication of Liquid Scintillators Loaded with 6-Phenylhexanoic Acid-Modified ZrO2 Nanoparticles for Observation of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

“…To develop a scintillator containing a large amount of the candidate isotope, the dispersion was used as the liquid scintillator. It has been reported that adding a large number of nanoparticles to organic scintillators results in increased light scattering and reduces the scintillation light yield [ 26 ]. Therefore, X-ray-induced radioluminescence spectroscopy was used to determine whether the scintillation peak of the fabricated scintillator was present.…”