Neutron detector and fabrication method thereof
A neutron detector and a method for fabricating a neutron detector. The neutron detector includes a photodetector, and a solid-state scintillator operatively coupled to the photodetector. In one aspect, the method for fabricating a neutron detector includes providing a photodetector, and depositing a solid-state scintillator on the photodetector to form a detector structure.
1. A neutron detector, comprising:
a photodetector; and
a solid-state scintillator disposed on the photodetector; wherein the solid-state scintillator comprises a bi-alkali iodide material, the bi-alkali iodide material being doped with one or more dopant elements.
2. The neutron detector of claim 1 , wherein the solid-state scintillator comprises a plurality of microcolumns.
3. The neutron detector of claim 1 , wherein the bi-alkali iodide material has a monoclinic crystal structure.
4. The neutron detector of claim 1 , wherein the solid-state scintillator comprises one of a first bi-alkali iodide material wherein a first alkali metal is Lithium and a second alkali metal is Cesium and a second bi-alkali iodide material wherein the first alkali metal is Lithium and the second alkali metal is Sodium.
5. The neutron detector of claim 4 , wherein the one or more dopant elements comprise one or more of a periodic table group 13 element and a periodic table lanthanide element.
6. The neutron detector of claim 5 , wherein the one or more dopant elements comprise one or more of thallium and europium.
7. A method for fabricating a neutron detector, comprising:
operatively coupling a solid-state scintillator on a photodetector to form a detector structure; the solid-state scintillator comprising a bi-alkali iodide material, the bi-alkali iodide material being doped with a dopant element; wherein the dopant element comprises one or more of a periodic table group 13 element and a periodic table lanthanide element.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising hermetically sealing the detector structure.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein hermetically sealing comprises applying a reflective coating to the detector structure.
10. A method for synthesizing a scintillator material comprising:
mixing a first alkali iodide material and a second alkali iodide material to form a bi-alkali iodide material; and
adding to the bi-alkali iodide material one or more metallic iodide materials, which result in dopants, to form a scintillator material.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising depositing the scintillator material.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein depositing the scintillator material comprises evaporating the scintillator material using a hot wall evaporation apparatus.
13. A solid-state scintillator comprising a bi-alkali iodide material, the bi-alkali iodide material being doped with one or more dopant elements.
14. The solid-state scintillator of claim 13 wherein the bi-alkali iodide material comprises one of a first bi-alkali iodide material wherein a first alkali metal is Lithium and a second alkali metal is Cesium and a second bi-alkali iodide material wherein the first alkali metal is Lithium and the second alkali metal is Sodium.
15. The solid-state scintillator of claim 14 wherein the one or more dopant elements comprise one or more of a periodic table group 13 element and a periodic table lanthanide element.
16. The solid-state scintillator of claim 15 wherein the one or more dopant elements comprise one or more of thallium and europium.
17. The solid-state scintillator of claim 15 wherein a concentration of the one or more dopant elements is between about 0.4% and 0.8%.
18. The solid-state scintillator of claim 13 wherein the solid-state scintillator comprises a plurality of microcolumns.
19. The solid-state scintillator of claim 13 wherein the bi-alkali iodide material has a monoclinic crystal structure.
20. The neutron detector of claim 4 , wherein a concentration of the one or more dopant elements is between about 0.4% and 0.8%.