Thermal neutron detection with lithium-based semiconductors

Alireza Kargar; Huicong Hong; Joshua Tower; Paul Guggenheim; Eric Qian; Conner Brown; Mathew Breen; James F. Christian; Kanai Shah; Eric Lukosi; Robert Golduber; Jake Gallagher; Amine Benkechkache; Mercouri Kanatzidis; Michael R. Squillante

doi:10.1117/12.2632318

4 October 2022 Thermal neutron detection with lithium-based semiconductors

Alireza Kargar, Huicong Hong, Joshua Tower, Paul Guggenheim, Eric Qian, Conner Brown, Mathew Breen, James F. Christian, Kanai Shah, Eric Lukosi, Robert Golduber, Jake Gallagher, Amine Benkechkache, Mercouri Kanatzidis, Michael R. Squillante

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12241, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXIV; 1224108 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2632318
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2022, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Li-based semiconductor materials represent a promising alternative to 3-He and scintillation materials for thermal neutron detection and imaging instruments. Semiconductor crystals of LiInSe₂, LiInP₂Se₆, and LiGaInSe₂ (LiGa_0.5In_0.5Se₂) were grown using natural and enriched lithium (⁶Li). The materials were characterized for electronic and optical properties including optical transmission, current-voltage (I-V) characteristic for resistivity, and bandgap. Thermal neutron detectors were fabricated and characterized for neutron and gamma-ray response. Pulse height spectra were collected from a moderated custom-designed ²⁴¹AmBe neutron source and a ⁶⁰Co gamma-ray source. The LiInSe₂ samples exhibited a 2.8 eV cutoff in the optical spectrum and a resistivity of ~8×10¹¹ Ω·cm. LiInSe₂ devices exhibit a noise floor of <30 keV which operated at a field of 630 V/mm, for the 0.8-mm thick device. The Vertical Gradient Freeze (VGF) grown LiInP₂Se₆ samples exhibited a 2.2 eV cutoff in the optical spectrum and resistivity of ~4×10¹² Ω·cm. The Chemical Vapor Transport (CVT) grown LiInP2Se6 devices exhibit a noise floor of <60 keV which operated at a field of 8,000 V/mm, for the 0.05- mm thick device. Furthermore, the long-term stability of LiInSe₂ devices during multiple weeks under continuous bias was investigated.

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Alireza Kargar, Huicong Hong, Joshua Tower, Paul Guggenheim, Eric Qian, Conner Brown, Mathew Breen, James F. Christian, Kanai Shah, Eric Lukosi, Robert Golduber, Jake Gallagher, Amine Benkechkache, Mercouri Kanatzidis, and Michael R. Squillante "Thermal neutron detection with lithium-based semiconductors", Proc. SPIE 12241, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXIV, 1224108 (4 October 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2632318

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