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Dysprosium-Containing Nanocrystals for Thermal Neutron Detection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 October 2011

Antonio C. Rivera ,
Natasha N. Glazener ,
Nathaniel C. Cook ,
Nathan J. Withers ,
John B. Plumley ,
Brian A. Akins ,
Ken Carpenter ,
Gennady A. Smolyakov ,
Robert D. Busch  and
Marek Osiński
Antonio C. Rivera
Affiliation:
Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343 Tel. (505) 272-7812; Fax (505) 272-7801
Natasha N. Glazener
Affiliation:
Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343 Tel. (505) 272-7812; Fax (505) 272-7801
Nathaniel C. Cook
Affiliation:
Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343 Tel. (505) 272-7812; Fax (505) 272-7801
Nathan J. Withers
Affiliation:
Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343 Tel. (505) 272-7812; Fax (505) 272-7801
John B. Plumley
Affiliation:
Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343 Tel. (505) 272-7812; Fax (505) 272-7801
Brian A. Akins
Affiliation:
Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343 Tel. (505) 272-7812; Fax (505) 272-7801
Ken Carpenter
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
Gennady A. Smolyakov
Affiliation:
Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343 Tel. (505) 272-7812; Fax (505) 272-7801
Robert D. Busch
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
Marek Osiński*
Affiliation:
Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343 Tel. (505) 272-7812; Fax (505) 272-7801
*
*E-mail: osinski@chtm.unm.edu
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Abstract

We propose a novel concept of optical detection of thermal neutrons in a passive device that exploits transmutation of Dy-164, a dominant, naturally occurring isotope of dysprosium, into a stable isotope of either holmium Ho-165 or erbium Er-166. Combination of the high thermal neutron capture cross section of ~2,650 barns and transmutation into two other lanthanides makes Dy-164 a very attractive alternative to traditional methods of neutron detection that will be completely insensitive to gamma irradiation, thus reducing greatly the likelihood of false alarms. The optically enabled neutron detection relies on significant differences in optical properties of Dy, Ho, and Er that are not sensitive to a particular isotope, but change considerably from one element to another. While the concept applies equally well to bulk materials and to nanocrystals, nanocrystalline approach is much more attractive due to its significantly lower cost, relative ease of colloidal synthesis of high quality nanocrystals (NCs), and superior optical and mechanical properties of NCs compared to their bulk counterparts. We report on colloidal synthesis of DyF3 NCs, both doped and undoped with Ho and co-doped with Ce and Eu to enhance their optical properties. We also report on DyF3:10%Ce and DyF3:10%Eu NCs irradiated with thermal neutrons from a Cf-252 source and their optical characterization.

Keywords

neutron irradiationDynanoscale
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1341: Symposium U – Nuclear Radiation Detection Materials , 2011 , mrss11-1341-u09-02
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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