Silicon based nano-sensors for neutron dosimetry: Proof of concept

Abstract Silicon based nano structured thermal neutron detectors are desired to replace the existing neutron detectors since they are small and light, and has enough sensitivity to neutrons. In this work, device geometry has been simulated in SRIM and the radiation induced damages were calculated for 1.47 MeV α particle in a Silicon Nano wire (SiNW) having varying thickness and found out that the ideal thickness ranges from 0.5 mm to 1 mm. It has also been found that, for a single Si nano wire, the expected efficiency, η is 10.17%. Thus for ‘n’ number of SiNWs, the expected efficiency is ‘n × η’, which will be a remarkable increase in the efficiency when compared to the reported present thermal neutron detectors. A planar Silicon detector was also analyzed at the same time for the efficiency comparison and found that it could differentiate the signals of both 7Li and alpha pulses separately with a better resolution.