Introducing a novel beta-ray sensor based on polycarbonate/bismuth oxide nanocomposite

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Radiation Detection
• Polymer Composites

Background:

• Beta-ray detection is crucial for radiation monitoring.
• Developing novel materials with enhanced sensing capabilities is an ongoing research area.
• Polycarbonate (PC) is a common polymer, but its use in radiation sensing can be improved with additives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of polycarbonate/bismuth oxide (PC-Bi2O3) composites as beta-ray sensors.
• To analyze the effect of bismuth oxide loading on the electron interaction properties within the composite.
• To experimentally validate the sensing performance of the PC-Bi2O3 composite.

Main Methods:

• Electron range and stopping power simulations using the ESTAR program for PC-Bi2O3 composites with varying bismuth oxide concentrations (0-50 wt%).
• Experimental preparation and irradiation of pure PC and 50 wt% PC-Bi2O3 nanocomposites using a 90Sr beta source.
• Measurement of current-voltage characteristics and sensor response (electric current) at different dose rates and fixed voltage.

Main Results:

• Simulation results indicated that bismuth oxide concentration significantly influences electron range and stopping power in the PC matrix.
• A linear current-voltage response was observed for the 50 wt% PC-Bi2O3 composite between 100-1000 V.
• The PC-Bi2O3 composite exhibited higher sensitivity (33.3 nC mSv-1 cm-3) compared to pure PC (20.3 nC mSv-1 cm-3).

Conclusions:

• The PC-Bi2O3 composite demonstrates potential as a novel and effective beta-ray sensor.
• The addition of bismuth oxide enhances the material's performance for beta-ray detection.
• This composite offers a promising new avenue for developing advanced radiation sensing technologies.