Neutron detector based on lithiated sol-gel glass

A neutron detector technology is demonstrated based on ⁶Li/ ¹⁰B doped sol-gel glass. The detector is a sol-gel glass film coated silicon surface barrier detector (SBD). The ionized charged particles from (n, α) reactions in the sol-gel film enter the SBD and are counted. Data showing that gamma-ray pulse amplitudes interfere with identifying charged particles that exit the film layer with energies below the gamma-ray energy is presented. Experiments were performed showing the effect of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co gamma rays on the SBD detector. The reaction product energies of the triton and alpha particles from ⁶Li are significantly greater than the energies of the Compton electrons from high-energy gamma rays, allowing the measurement of neutrons in a high gamma background. The sol-gel radiation detection technology may be applicable to the characterization of transuranic waste, spent nuclear fuel and to the monitoring of stored plutonium.