Solid-state radiation-emitting compositions and devices
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsCarol S. Ashley, C. Jeffrey Brinker, Scott Reed, Robert J. Walko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a composition for the volumetric generation of radiation, wherein a first substance functions as a source of exciting radiation, and a second substance interacts with the exciting radiation to provide a second radiation. The compositions comprise a porous substrate which is loaded with: a source of exciting radiation, a component capable of emitting radiation upon interaction with the exciting radiation, or both. Preferably, the composition is an aerogel substrate loaded with both a source of exciting radiation, such as tritium, and a component capable of interacting with the exciting radiation, e.g., a phosphor, to produce radiation of a second energy.
Claims32
A composition comprising:
- an aerogel substrate loaded with
- (a) a source of exciting radiation of a first energy, and
- (b) a component capable of emitting radiation of a second energy upon interaction of said component with said radiation of a first energy,
- wherein said source is loaded within said substrate and said composition is a volumetric source of said radiation of said second energy.
A composition comprising:
- an aerogel substrate loaded with
- (a) a source of exciting radiation of a first energy, and
- (b) a component capable of emitting radiation of a second energy upon interaction of said component with said radiation of a first energy,
- wherein said source is loaded within said substrate, said composition is a volumetric source of said radiation of said second energy and said substrate transmits said radiation of said second energy to a substantial degree.
A composition comprising:
- a porous substrate having a porosity of at least about 30 vol. % loaded with
- (a) a source of exciting radiation of a first energy;
- and
- (b) a component capable of emitting radiation of a second energy upon interaction of said component with said radiation of said first energy,
- wherein said source is loaded within said substrate, said composition is a volumetric source of said radiation of said second energy,
- with the proviso that said porous substrate is not and does not contain a zeolite crystalline material.
A composition comprising:
- an aerogel substrate loaded with a radioactive source of exciting radiation of a first energy, and
- a luminescently doped ZnS waveguide which interacts with said exciting radiation of a first energy to form an emitting radiation of a second energy,
- wherein said composition is a volumetric source of said radiation of said second energy.
A composition comprising:
- a porous substrate;
- a source of exciting radiation of a first energy covalently bonded to said porous substrate;
- and
- said porous substrate being loaded with a component capable of emitting radiation of a second energy upon interaction of said component with said radiation of said first energy,
- wherein said source is loaded within said substrate and said composition is a volumetric source of said radiation of said second energy,
- with the proviso that said porous substrate is not and does not contain a zeolite crystalline material.
In a radiation-emitting composition comprising tritium and a component which emits non-.beta. radiation upon interaction with .beta.-radiation emanating from said tritium, wherein the improved composition comprises a xerogel or aerogel substrate internally loaded with tritium and said component and wherein said composition volumetrically emits said non-.beta. radiation.
A method of generating radiation comprising prepared an aerogel substrate loaded with (a) a source of exciting radiation of a first energy and (b) a component capable of emitting radiation of a second energy upon interaction of said component with said radiation of a first energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.