SBIR Phase I: Boron Phosphide Thermal Neutron Detectors

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发一种新型的磷化硼（10 BP）热中子探测器，该探测器将联合收割机固体的高硼密度与有效产生对中子相互作用的大响应相结合。 新的探测器将是坚固的，紧凑的，对热中子高度敏感，对伽马辐射相对不敏感，快速，并能够低偏置操作。 第一阶段将发展创新的MOCVD技术，在渐变组成的GaP衬底上生长高质量的BP薄膜。 薄膜将生长到几十微米的厚度，并检查物理结构。 在制造成探测器后，将在Spire测试基本的电气性能，然后将探测器送往桑迪亚国家实验室进行辐射测试。 第二阶段将扩展该技术，以优化探测器性能和更厚的薄膜沉积，以获得更高的灵敏度。 总体目标是实现高度中子敏感的半导体探测器，是紧凑的，多功能的，并可能能够成像应用。 拟议的研究工作将导致高效率，磷化硼薄膜热中子探测器。 其紧凑的尺寸和低电压操作将使它们适合于取代需要便携式或在受限条件下操作的当前气体或闪烁体探测器。 这些探测器的新颖设计也将在中子射线照相和剂量测定、环境监测、核不扩散和监测反应堆运行中得到扩展应用。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a novel thermal neutron detector from boron phosphide (10BP) that will combine the high boron density of a solid with the efficient creation of large response to the neutron interactions. The new detectors will be rugged, compact, highly sensitive to thermal neutrons, relatively insensitive to gamma radiation, fast, and capable of low bias operation. Phase I will develop the innovative technique of MOCVD growth of high quality BP films on graded composition Gap substrates. Films will be grown to thicknesses of several tens of microns and examined for physical structure. After fabrication into detectors, the basic electrical properties will be tested at Spire and then the detectors will be sent to Sandia National Laboratory for radiation testing. Phase II will extend the technology for optimized detector performance and thicker film deposition for greater sensitivity. The overall goal is to achieve a highly neutron sensitive semiconductor detector that is compact, versatile, and potentially capable of imaging applications. The proposed research effort will result in high efficiency, boron phosphide thin film thermal neutron detectors. Their compact size and low voltage operation will make them aptly suited to replace cur-rent gas or scintillator detectors that need to operate portably or under constrained conditions. The novel design of these detectors will also find extended uses in neutron radiography and dosimetry, environmental monitoring, nuclear nonproliferation, and monitoring reactor operations.