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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 AIBIIIXVI 2 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 AIBIIIXVI 2 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

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Type
Articles
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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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