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Lithium-containing semiconductor crystals for radiation detection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 November 2013

Ashley C. Stowe ,
Joe Cochran ,
Pijush Bhattacharya ,
Eugene Tupitsyn ,
Brenden Wiggins ,
Michael Groza  and
Arnold Burger
Ashley C. Stowe
Affiliation:
Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Joe Cochran
Affiliation:
Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
Pijush Bhattacharya
Affiliation:
Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Eugene Tupitsyn
Affiliation:
Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Brenden Wiggins
Affiliation:
Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Michael Groza
Affiliation:
Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Arnold Burger
Affiliation:
Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Abstract

Semiconductor materials have shown promise as ionizing radiation detection devices; however, to be used as a neutron detector, these materials require the addition of a nucleus with a large neutron absorption cross section (such as 10B or 6Li) to capture thermal neutrons and convert them into directly detectable particles. A semiconducting material that contains the neutron absorber within its regular stoichiometry has the potential to be more efficient than a layered or heterogeneous device at transferring the kinetic energy of the charged particle into the semiconducting material. One class of materials that has shown promise is Li-containing AIBIIIXVI2 compounds such as LiGaTe2, LiGaSe2, and LiInSe2. These materials have band gaps (2-3.5 eV) appropriate for room-temperature detection of thermal neutrons and would be the first detection material that is simultaneously, exquisitely sensitive to thermal neutrons; is insensitive to gammas; and acts as a direct conversion device. A vacuum distillation process provided high-purity lithium metal for AIBIIIXVI2 synthesis. Single crystals of sufficient bulk resistivity (grown for LiGaSe2 and LiInSe2LiInSe2) showed a distinct photo response as well as a clear response to alpha particles. Additional radiation measurements indicated that a 6 mm x 7 mm x 1.33 mm crystal of LiInSe2 detected gamma rays, and despite being composed of natural abundance lithium, responded to thermal neutrons as well.

Keywords

crystal growthLisemiconducting
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1576: Symposium WW – Nuclear Radiation Detection Materials , 2013 , mrss13-1576-ww09-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

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