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Printable ionizing radiation sensors fabricated from nanoparticulate blends of organic scintillators and polymer semiconductors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2019

Darcie Anderson
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia
Sophie Cottam
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia
Heidianne Heim
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia
Huiming Zhang
Affiliation:
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia
Natalie P. Holmes
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia
Matthew J. Griffith*
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW2308, Australia
*
Address all correspondence to Matthew J. Griffith at matthew.griffith@newcastle.edu.au
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Abstract

This work established the feasibility of flexible solution-processed radiation sensors prepared from an organic scintillator (1-phenyl-3-mesityl-2-pyrazoline) and a biocompatible semiconducting polymer (violanthrone-79). Absorbance, steady-state, and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements demonstrated a high efficiency for the transfer of absorbed energy from the scintillator to the semiconductor. Blended nanoparticles containing both materials were fabricated in order to reduce the intermolecular distance between molecules, creating a highly efficient energy transfer pathway. Radiation-sensing devices were then constructed from the materials. These exhibited successful sensitivity for gamma radiation from a 137Cs source that was not present for the control semiconducting polymer alone.

Type
Research Letters
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2019

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