| Popis: |
The concept of detection of thermal neutrons using gadolinium oxide nanocrystals is explored. Gadolinium is an element with by far the highest thermal neutron capture cross section among all stable isotopes. Colloidal synthesis of Gd 2 O 3 nanocrystals, Gd 2 O 3 nanocrystals doped with Ce, Gd 2 O 3 nanocrystals doped with Eu, and Gd 2 O 3 nanocrystals co-doped with Ce and Eu is reported. The nanocrystals were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis, and steady-state UV-VIS optical absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Neutron detection has been modeled with MCNPX and confirmed in experiments with Gd-containing nanocrystalline samples irradiated with 252 Cf neutron source. |
