ARI-MA: Functionalization of Polymers with Fluorescent and Neutron Sensitive Groups for Efficient Neutron and Gamma Detection

13479782（Greife）.为了在国际边界和其他敏感地点提供放射安全，需要高效率的大型伽马和中子探测器。到目前为止，大型（平方英尺尺寸）伽马探测器可以是液体或固体有机闪烁器，而中子探测是通过减速塑料材料和3-He填充的比例计数器的组合来实现的。由于3-He在放射性安全扫描仪中的广泛使用而变得稀缺和昂贵，需要开发具有类似或上级性能的替代探测器材料。其目的还在于降低单个探测器的价格，以便更广泛地销售，从而有助于改善全球核探测结构。该项目汇集了一个具有化学/聚合物科学和核物理背景的跨学科研究人员团队，对聚合物的合成进行基础研究，旨在显着提高光输出，结合中子敏感同位素以及降低生产成本。该项目将合成新的有机基材料，用作掺杂剂和/或基质，大大提高了能量转移效率。这一目标将通过以下方式实现：1。开发将化学结合到聚合物基质中的高荧光基团，从而防止已知会降低效率的加工和/或应用期间荧光基团的聚集; 2.开发高荧光的含硼（10-B）的材料，其可以充当中子和α/γ检测基团，以及3.开发“庞大的”3-D高荧光基团，可以物理混合到聚合物基质中，但由于其庞大的3-D结构而不会迁移或聚集。该项目旨在为核安全应用开发闪烁体，因此，如果成功，将对它所服务的社会产生更广泛的影响，提高广泛部署敏感辐射扫描仪的可能性。有机/高分子化学与核物理之间的交叉学科研究为所有相关的研究生和本科生提供了理想的培训场所。将编制荧光及其应用推广活动的实践课程，并在当地学校讲授。

13479782 (Greife). Efficient large scale detectors for gammas and neutrons are needed to provide radiological security at international borders and at other sensitive sites. To date large (sqft dimensions) gamma detectors can be liquid or solid organic scintillators while neutron detection is achieved by a combination of moderating plastic material and 3-He filled proportional counters. As 3-He has become scarce and expensive due to its widespread use in radiological security scanners, alternative detector materials need to be developed with similar or superior performance. The aim is also to reduce the price of the individual detectors to allow a wider distribution and as such aid in improving the global nuclear detection architecture. The project brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers with backgrounds in chemistry/polymer science and nuclear physics to do basic research on the synthesis of scintillating polymers directed at significant improvement in light output, incorporation of neutron sensitive isotopes as well as reduction in production cost. This project will synthesize new organic-based materials for use as dopants and/or matrices with greatly enhanced energy transfer efficiencies over what is commercially available. This goal will be achieved by: 1. Develop highly fluorescent groups that will be chemically incorporated into the polymer matrix, thus preventing aggregation of the fluorescent groups during processing and/or application that is known to reduce efficiency; 2. Develop highly fluorescent boron (10-B) containing materials that can act as both neutron and alpha/gamma detection groups, and 3. Develop "bulky" 3-D highly fluorescent groups that can be physically mixed into the polymer matrix, but will not migrate or aggregate due to its bulky 3-D structure. This project is aimed at scintillator development for nuclear security applications and as such if successful will have broader impact on the society it serves in improving the possibilities for widespread deployment of sensitive radiation scanners. The interdisciplinary research on the intersection between organic/polymer chemistry and nuclear physics provides an ideal training ground for for all the graduate and undergraduate students involved. A hands-on curriculum for outreach activities on fluorescence and its applications will be developed and taught in local schools.