Structural and component characterization of the B4C neutron conversion layer deposited by magnetron sputtering

Jingtao Zhu; Yang Liu; Jianrong Zhou; Zehua Yang; Hangyu Zhu; Xiaojuan Zhou; Jinhao Tan; Mingqi Cui; Zhijia Sun

Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Sep 2023)

Structural and component characterization of the B4C neutron conversion layer deposited by magnetron sputtering

Jingtao Zhu,
Yang Liu,
Jianrong Zhou,
Zehua Yang,
Hangyu Zhu,
Xiaojuan Zhou,
Jinhao Tan,
Mingqi Cui,
Zhijia Sun

Affiliations

Jingtao Zhu: Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro-structured Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Physical and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
Yang Liu: Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro-structured Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Physical and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, Guangdong, China
Jianrong Zhou: Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Corresponding author. Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, Guangdong, China.
Zehua Yang: State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Hangyu Zhu: Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro-structured Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Physical and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, Guangdong, China
Xiaojuan Zhou: Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Jinhao Tan: Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Mingqi Cui: State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Zhijia Sun: Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Corresponding author. Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, Guangdong, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 55, no. 9
pp. 3121 – 3125

Abstract

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Neutron conversion detectors that use 10B-enriched boron carbide are feasible alternatives to 3He-based detectors. We prepared boron carbide films at micron-scale thickness using direct-current magnetron sputtering. The structural characteristics of natural B4C films, including density, roughness, crystallization, and purity, were analyzed using grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy. A beam profile test was conducted to verify the practicality of the 10B-enriched B4C neutron conversion layer. A clear profile indicated the high quality of the neutron conversion of the boron carbide layer.

Published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology

ISSN: 1738-5733 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-engineering-and-technology

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