Fabrication of Pillar-Structured Thermal Neutron Detectors

Authors

Rebecca J. Nikolić, IEEE
Adam M. Conway, IEEE
Catherine E. Reinhardt, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Robert T. Graff, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Tzu Fang Wang, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Nirmalendu Deo, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Chin Li Cheung, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

December 2007

Comments

Published by 2007 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record. Copyright ©2007 IEEE. Used by permission.

Abstract

Pillar detector is an innovative solid state device structure that leverages advanced semiconductor fabrication technology to produce a device for thermal neutron detection. State-of-the-art thermal neutron detectors have shortcomings in achieving simultaneously high efficiency, low operating voltage while maintaining adequate fieldability performance. By using a 3-dimensional silicon PIN diode pillar array filled with isotopic boron 10, (¹⁰B) a high efficiency device is theoretically possible. The fabricated pillar structures reported in this work are composed of 2 μm diameter silicon pillars with a 4 μm pitch and pillar heights of 6 and 12 μm. The pillar detector with a 12 μm height achieved a thermal neutron detection efficiency of 7.3% at 2V.