4H-SiC Schottky Barrier Diodes for Efficient Thermal Neutron Detection

Area of Science:

• Semiconductor Device Physics
• Nuclear Detection Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) are crucial for radiation detection.
• Integrating thermal neutron converters enhances SBDs for neutron detection.
• Optimizing converter materials and thickness is key to improving detector efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the efficiency of 4H-SiC SBD-based detectors.
• To determine the optimal thickness for thermal neutron converters.
• To evaluate 6LiF and 10B4C as converter materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code and Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter simulations.
• Optimized the thickness of 6LiF and 10B4C thermal neutron converters.
• Fabricated and tested 4H-SiC SBD detectors with optimized converters.

Main Results:

• Achieved a thermal neutron efficiency of 4.67% with 6LiF converters.
• Achieved a thermal neutron efficiency of 2.24% with 10B4C converters.
• Demonstrated improved detector performance through optimized converter thickness.

Conclusions:

• Optimized thermal neutron converter thickness significantly boosts 4H-SiC SBD detector efficiency.
• 6LiF offers higher efficiency compared to 10B4C for these detectors.
• This work provides a pathway for developing more sensitive neutron detectors.