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A SERS method for thermal neutron detection
Author(s) -
Sun Jie,
Wang Kaikai,
Han Shuyan,
Zhang Mingyue,
Wang Ying,
Qian Weiping,
Zhang Haiqian,
Dong Jian
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.5368
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , neutron temperature , neutron , nuclear engineering , materials science , chemistry , physics , nuclear physics , optics , engineering
To achieve the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method for thermal neutron detection, 4‐mercaptophenylboronic acid (4‐MPBA), a natural boron‐containing and high intrinsic Raman‐active compound, was used as a detection material, and after the fission of boron‐10( 10 B) isotope capturing thermal neutrons, parts of 4‐MPBA molecules were converted into thiophenol. Based on SERS substrates of gold nanoshells, the conversion was sensitively quantitative by SERS spectra of the two molecules to indicate the dose of thermal neutrons. The conversion was proportional to the radiation time and reversely proportional to the distance to the radiation source. The detection limit is 5.6 μGy and 33.6 μGy corresponding to the 4‐MPBA adsorbed on solid‐phase substrates and dissolved in solvent, respectively. The SERS method for thermal neutron detection would provide a simple and new way for neutrons utilization, administration, and radiation protection.