Lanthanide based solid state nano-composite neutron detector.

After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, the U.S. government began deploying neutron detectors at their borders to secure them against smuggled nuclear material, creating an increased demand. Helium-3, is the most important isotope for neutron detection, and is a by-product of nuclear weapons production. However, the continued reduction in the nuclear stockpile, has produced a worldwide shortage of of this gas. Increased interest in the use of neutrons for particle therapy treatment and for scientific investigation (with the building of the European Spallation Source in Sweden), has also further increased the demands for alternative, sustainable neutron detection technology. EnSol's LaNNDe project aims to replace He-3 based neutron detectors with a cost effective, solid-state device. Nanoparticles made of neutron absorbing material will be dispersed in a semiconductor matrix, forming a composite which is both neutron sensitive and has favorable electronic properties, allowing direct readout of the neutron flux. The project has now been finalised. It has been largely successful, however due to Covid-19 restrictions we have not been able to carryout the final full charaterisation and testing of the detector system as originally planned.

The project has enabled EnSol to formulate and construct a thin film /nanoparticle based neutron detector. Due to the discrete nature in which this has been achieved within the project development, it enables the basis of the detector to be adapted to be a "generic" type technology which has significant potential for other application areas such as chemical detection. Expertise developed in signal processing electronics, battery technology & management, & IoT communications will also be a great asset for future technological developments.

Neutron detection and neutron imagine is experiencing a upsurgence in interest, with applications in cancer treatment, medical and pharmacological research, environmental monitoring, experimental physics and homeland security. Traditional Helium-3 based detectors used in this field are no longer viable due to demand for this finite resource now greatly outstripping the supply. The very limited materials that will strongly interact with neutron radiation however, makes finding an alternative detection method highly challenging.This opens up an ideal commercial opportunity for the application of advances in nanotechnology. This industrial R&D project will combine the latest developments in nanocomposite material and device fabrication pioneered at EnSol AS with the cutting edge Application Specific Integrated Circuit signal processing technology developed by IDEAS AS, to produce a state of the art commercially viable solid state neutron detector technology. The detector will be based on a cost effective lanthanide nanocomposite material, having a neutron absorption cross section greatly exceeding that of the current favored Helium-3 alternative - (enriched) Boron-10. The key scientific challenge in this project will be in the optimisation of the neutron capture to signal output efficiency of the detector. This will rely heavily on the ability to fine tune the nanocomposite material characteristics and match them to the signal processing. Analytical facilities at the University of Bergen will be used in this optimisation process and be combined with results from neutron testing and characterisation experiments at various neutron source facilities. Commercialisation will be realised through an initial period of high-value customised detectors sale, providing the infrastructure for further production facilities and a more mass market generic detector.