Damage generation mechanism and performance degradation of CdZnTe radiation detectors in neutron radiation field

IF 2.8 2区工程技术 Q3 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of Nuclear Materials Pub Date : 2025-03-26 DOI:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155781

Qinzeng Hu , Lingyan Xu , Zhixin Tan , Ming Hao , Lu Liang , Yingming Wang , Zhentao Qin , Lixiang Lian , Chongqi Liu , Yanyan Lei , Wei Zheng , Wanqi Jie

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Semiconductor radiation detectors used in nuclear power plants and other environments are inevitably exposed to neutron, γ-ray and other high-energy radiation, which can damage the crystal structure of semiconductors and thus degrade the detector performance. Here, we investigate the effects of neutron irradiation on the microstructure, photoelectric and radiation detection performance of CdZnTe detectors. Low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra show that the dislocation related defect concentration in the irradiated crystals increases with increasing fluence. The infrared (IR) transmittance of the irradiated crystal decreases compared with that of the unirradiated crystal, which also indicates an increase in the dislocation density. The presence of stacking faults, stacking fault dipoles and dislocation locks in the irradiated CdZnTe crystals has been revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The energy resolution of γ-ray from ²⁴¹Am@100 V is degraded from 5.86 % before irradiation to 10.72 % after irradiation at 5.6 × 10¹⁰ n/cm². In addition, the mobility-lifetime product of electron (μτ)_e in CdZnTe detectors is reduced from 4.8 × 10^-3 cm²/V before irradiation to 7.02 × 10^-4 cm²/V after irradiation at 5.6 × 10¹⁰ n/cm². I-V test show that the barrier height of the CdZnTe detector decreases with the increase of neutron irradiation fluence, leading to a decrease in resistivity. Time-of-flight (TOF) tests demonstrate that the electron mobility after irradiation decreases with increasing irradiation fluence. Notably, the maximum neutron fluence used in this study is 3.9 × 10¹¹ n/cm², at which the CdZnTe radiation detector is not completely damaged. This study mainly investigates the radiation damage mechanism, induced defect characteristics and performance degradation of CdZnTe crystals by neutron irradiation, aiming to provide theoretical guidance for improving the radiation-resistant properties of detectors.

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来源期刊

Journal of Nuclear Materials 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

25.80%

发文量

601

审稿时长

63 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Nuclear Materials publishes high quality papers in materials research for nuclear applications, primarily fission reactors, fusion reactors, and similar environments including radiation areas of charged particle accelerators. Both original research and critical review papers covering experimental, theoretical, and computational aspects of either fundamental or applied nature are welcome. The breadth of the field is such that a wide range of processes and properties in the field of materials science and engineering is of interest to the readership, spanning atom-scale processes, microstructures, thermodynamics, mechanical properties, physical properties, and corrosion, for example. Topics covered by JNM Fission reactor materials, including fuels, cladding, core structures, pressure vessels, coolant interactions with materials, moderator and control components, fission product behavior. Materials aspects of the entire fuel cycle. Materials aspects of the actinides and their compounds. Performance of nuclear waste materials; materials aspects of the immobilization of wastes. Fusion reactor materials, including first walls, blankets, insulators and magnets. Neutron and charged particle radiation effects in materials, including defects, transmutations, microstructures, phase changes and macroscopic properties. Interaction of plasmas, ion beams, electron beams and electromagnetic radiation with materials relevant to nuclear systems.