Solution-grown crystals for neutron radiation detectors, and methods of solution growth
An organic crystal according to one embodiment includes an organic crystal comprising diphenylacetylene and stilbene or a stilbene derivative, the crystal having physical characteristics of formation from solution, the organic crystal exhibiting a signal response signature for neutrons from a radioactive source. A system according to one embodiment includes an organic crystal comprising diphenylacetylene and stilbene or a stilbene derivative, the crystal having physical characteristics of formation from solution, the organic crystal exhibiting a signal response signature for neutrons from a radioactive source; and a photodetector for detecting the signal response of the organic crystal. Methods of making such crystals are also provided.
1. An organic crystal, comprising:
an organic crystal comprising diphenylacetylene and stilbene or a stilbene derivative, the crystal having physical characteristics of formation from solution, the organic crystal exhibiting a signal response signature for neutrons from a radioactive source.
2. The organic crystal of claim 1 , wherein the organic crystal includes one or more benzene or phenyl rings.
3. The organic crystal of claim 1 , wherein the organic crystal includes a material selected from a group consisting of 1-3-5-triphenyl benzene, 1-1-4-4-tetraphenyl-1-3-butadiene, 1-4-diphenyl-1-3-butadiene, 9-10-diphenyl-anthracene, 9-phenylanthracene, diphenyl acetylene, 2-fluorobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid, 4-biphenylcarboxylic acid, and n-phenylanthranilic acid.
4. The organic crystal of claim 1 , wherein the organic crystal includes a salt of an aromatic acid.
5. The organic crystal of claim 1 , wherein the organic crystal includes a lithium salt of an aromatic acid.
6. The organic crystal of claim 1 , wherein the organic crystal includes a lithium salt of 2-fluorobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid.
7. The organic crystal of claim 1 , wherein the organic crystal has a length of greater than about 1 mm in one dimension.
8. The organic crystal of claim 1 , wherein the organic crystal has a length of greater than about 5 mm in one dimension.
9. The organic crystal of claim 1 , wherein the organic crystal has a length of greater than about 25 mm in one dimension.
10. The organic crystal of claim 1 , said organic crystal exhibiting typical faceted growth on the faces of said crystal.
11. A system, comprising:
an organic crystal comprising diphenylacetylene and stilbene or a stilbene derivative, the crystal having physical characteristics of formation from solution, the organic crystal exhibiting a signal response signature for neutrons from a radioactive source; and
a photodetector for detecting the signal response of the organic crystal.
12. The system of claim 11 , said organic crystal exhibiting typical faceted growth on the faces of said crystal.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the organic crystal includes one or more benzene or phenyl rings.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the organic crystal includes a material selected from a group consisting of 1-3-5-triphenyl benzene, 1-1-4-4-tetraphenyl-1-3-butadiene, 1-4-diphenyl-1-3-butadiene, 9-10-diphenyl-anthracene, 9-phenylanthracene, 2-fluorobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid, 4-biphenylcarboxylic acid, and n-phenylanthranilic acid.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said organic crystal includes a derivative of stilbene.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the organic crystal includes a salt of an aromatic acid.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the organic crystal includes lithium salt of an aromatic acid.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the organic crystal includes lithium salicylate.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the organic crystal includes a lithium salt of 2-fluorobiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the organic crystal has a length of greater than about 1 mm in one dimension.
21. The system of claim 11 , wherein the organic crystal has a length of greater than about 5 mm in one dimension.
22. The system of claim 11 , wherein the organic crystal has a length of greater than about 25 mm in one dimension.
23. The system of claim 11 , wherein the signal response signature includes a delayed luminescence characteristic of neutrons interacting with the organic crystal relative to a luminescence characteristic of gamma rays interacting with the organic crystal.
24. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a processor for processing an output of the photodetector using pulse shape discrimination for differentiating responses for neutrons and gamma irradiation.
25. A method, comprising:
growing an organic crystal from solution, the organic crystal exhibiting a signal response signature for neutrons from a radioactive source, wherein the crystal includes diphenylacetylene and stilbene or a stilbene derivative.
26. The method of claim 25 , said solution being comprised of a solvent and a solute, said solvent comprising more than 10% of said solution, and said solution being held at a temperature that is less than that of the melting point of said solvent during the growing.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the organic crystal has a length of greater than about 1 mm in one dimension.