Exploratory Studies of Optical Response to Gamma and Neutron Radiation of Doped and Undoped II-VI, III-V, and Novel Scintillating Core/Shell Nanocrystals [UNM_FY06_025]

University Of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM

Investigators

Abstract

Scintillators are usually consist of a transparent insulator and an impurity that functions as a luminescence center. They are often slow or how low efficiency. Colloidal nano-crystals in liquids, sol-gel and organic polymers will be developed. The nano-crystal surface will be modified to make them soluble. The optical response will be investigated and results compared across systems. The work will provide the first studies of the optical response of colloidal nano-crystals to irradiation. It is anticipated that this effort will lead to identification of high-efficiency, fast scintillators utilizing 3D confinement of electrons and holes in nano-crystals. It will provide a systematic database of gamma ray and neutron response and characterization of nano-crystals. The work will contribute to the investigation of basic radiation effects on nano-crystals and their utilization in handheld, efficient detectors of nuclear radiation. The work should have a major impact on the development of scintillating materials and expand the range to nano-crystals. The groups actively engages undergraduate students in the research through a specialized program focused on recruitment, mentoring, retention and graduation of members of underrepresented groups.