Nanotechnology Enabled Neutron Detection Systems

Neutron detector technologies that possess high detector efficiency, high gamma rejection, low-power consumption, and are able to be easily scaled to mission needs are critical for nuclear security and protection against terrorism. This proposal identifies a transformative new approach for neutron detection using a boron-10 activation layer paired with ion-sensitive nanomaterials. Recent work has shown that certain nanomaterials are extremely sensitive to ionized gas molecules, which enables them to detect even individual ions. These sensors can be utilized as a core element within an ionizable gas-filled volume that responds to the neutron/boron-10 interaction. A key differentiator of our detectors will be the ability to manufacture pixelated detector elements, which will enable use-case and form-factor-specific scalability and design. This project will combine the state-of-the-art in materials science, physics, detector technology, and electrical engineering to address an issue of enormous scientific importance and technical value. This Phase I effort will use modeling and simulation to explore the detector pixel size and performance and build a single element proof of concept sensor. With the overall goal to prove the feasibility of the neutron sensor technology and identify key metrics and benchmarks in order to test prototypes in Phase II.