Transparent composites for efficient neutron detection

Shichao Lv, Dazhao Wang, Junzhou Tang, Ziang Liu, Hiroyuki Inoue, Bin Tang, Zhijia Sun, Lothar Wondraczek, Jianrong Qiu and Shifeng Zhou ()
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Shichao Lv: South China University of Technology
Dazhao Wang: South China University of Technology
Junzhou Tang: South China University of Technology
Ziang Liu: South China University of Technology
Hiroyuki Inoue: The University of Tokyo
Bin Tang: China Spallation Neutron Source
Zhijia Sun: China Spallation Neutron Source
Lothar Wondraczek: Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Jianrong Qiu: Zhejiang University
Shifeng Zhou: South China University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Transparent, inorganic composite materials are of broad interest, from structural components in astronomical telescopes and mirror supports to solid-state lasers, smart window devices, and gravitational wave detectors. Despite great progress in material synthesis, it remains a standing challenge to fabricate such transparent glass composites with high crystallinity (HC-TGC). Here, we demonstrate the co-solidification of a mixture of melts with a stark contrast in crystallization habit as an approach for preparing HC-TGC materials. The melts used in this approach are selected so that glass formation and crystal precipitation occur simultaneously and synergistically, avoiding the formation of interfacial cracks, residual pores, and delamination effects. Using this method, various unusual hybridized HC-TGC materials such as oxychloride, oxybromide, and oxyiodide composite systems were fabricated in dense, bulk shapes. These materials exhibit intriguing optical properties and neutron response-ability. Using such HC-TGC materials, we develop a neutron detector and demonstrate the application for efficient neutron monitoring and even single neutron detection. We expect that these findings may help to bring about a generation of fully inorganic, transparent composites with synergistic combinations of conventionally incompatible materials.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51119-w

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