Thermal neutron detectors based on gadolinium-containing nanoscintillators
A thermal neutron detector and method employ Gd-containing nanoscintillators. Thermal neutron radiation is detected by observing scintillation events from the nanoscintillators.
1. A method for detection of thermal neutrons, comprising observing scintillation events from neutron-irradiated Gd-containing nanoscintillators in the form of nanoparticles or nanocrystals that comprise at least one of gadolinium oxide and a non-Gd lanthanide oxide doped with Gd and that when irradiated with thermal neutrons exhibit light-emitting scintillation events, wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals are dispersed in a transparent solid host matrix.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals have a lateral dimension in a size range of 1 nm to 100 nm.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals comprise the gadolinium oxide doped with another lanthanide element.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals are made by co-precipitation colloidal synthesis.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the scintillation events are observed by counting the events.
6. A detector for detection of thermal neutrons, comprising Gd-containing nanoscintillators that comprise nanoparticles or nanocrystals that comprise at least one of gadolinium oxide and non-Gd lanthanide oxide doped with Gd and that when irradiated with thermal neutrons exhibit light-emitting scintillation events, wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals are dispersed in a transparent solid host matrix.
7. The detector of claim 6 further including a device for counting scintillation events.
8. The detector of claim 6 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals have a lateral dimension in a size range of 1 nm to 100 nm.
9. The detector of claim 6 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals comprise the gadolinium oxide doped with another lanthanide element.
10. A method for detection of thermal neutrons, comprising observing scintillation events from neutron-irradiated Gd-containing nanoscintillators in the form of nanoparticles or nanocrystals that comprise at least one of gadolinium garnet and a non-Gd lanthanide garnet doped with Gd and that when irradiated with thermal neutrons exhibit light-emitting scintillation events, wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals are dispersed in a transparent solid host matrix.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals have a lateral dimension in a size range of 1 nm to 100 nm.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals comprise the gadolinium garnet doped with another lanthanide element.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals are made by co-precipitation colloidal synthesis.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the scintillation events are observed by counting the events.
15. A detector for detection of thermal neutrons, comprising Gd-containing nanoscintillators that comprise nanoparticles or nanocrystals that comprise at least one of gadolinium garnet and non-Gd lanthanide garnet doped with Gd and that when irradiated with thermal neutrons exhibit light-emitting scintillation events, wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals are dispersed in a transparent solid host matrix.
16. The detector of claim 15 further including a device for counting scintillation events.
17. The detector of claim 15 wherein the nanoparticles or nanocrystals have a lateral dimension in a size range of 1 nm to 100 nm.