Development of LiAlO2 nanoparticle-loaded plastic scintillators for neutron detection

We have developed LiAlO2 nanoparticle-loaded polystyrene-based plastic scintillators for neutron detection and evaluated the neutron detection properties. The size of LiAlO2 nanoparticles was ∼150 nm. The distribution of nanoparticles in the plastic scintillator was uniform in the horizontal direction but non-uniform in the vertical direction. The emission peak was observed around 420 nm in the scintillation spectra and is attributed to1,4-Bis[2-(5-phenyloxazolyl)] benzene (POPOP) included as an organic phosphor. The 10 wt% LiAlO2 nanoparticle-loaded plastic scintillators containing 22 wt% 2,5-Diphenyloxazole (DPO-POPOP (the molar ratio of 80:1) had the highest light yield of 1600 photons/neutron, which is significantly higher than that of a commercially available 10B-loaded plastic scintillators (BC-454) having a light yield of 800 photons/neutron.