# US 9,753,161 B2 · Neutron scintillator and neutron detector

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- Number: US 9,753,161 B2
- Document ID: US9753161B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/306,384
- Filed: 2015-06-08
- Published: 2017-02-23
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-09
- Assignees: Tokuyama Corporation
- Applicants: Tokuyama Corporation
- Inventors: Kentaro Fukuda; Takahiro Yoshida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753161B2

## CPC

- G01T 3/06: with scintillation detectors
- C09K 11/02: Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor
- C09K 11/7733: {with alkali or alkaline earth metals}
- C09K 11/7773: {with alkali or alkaline earth metal}
- G01T 1/20: with scintillation detectors
- G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00)
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A neutron scintillator excellent in neutron detection efficiency and n/γ discrimination ability, having uniform characteristics, and easily available in a large size is provided. The neutron scintillator comprises a resin composition having eutectic particles incorporated in a resin having a similar refractive index, the eutectic particles having a sphere equivalent diameter of the order of 50 to 1000 μm and being composed of lithium fluoride and an inorganic fluorescent material, such as MgF2, CaF2 or SrF2, the inorganic fluorescent material containing a lanthanoid, such as Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm or Yb, as a luminescent center atom.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A neutron scintillator comprising a resin composition containing a resin and eutectic particles, wherein
the resin has an internal transmittance of 10%/cm or more at an emission wavelength of the eutectic particles,
the eutectic particles are composed of lithium fluoride (LiF) and an inorganic fluorescent material, and
an equal specific surface area sphere equivalent diameter of the eutectic particles is in a range of 50 to 1000 μm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 1, wherein
the inorganic fluorescent material is an inorganic material containing at least one lanthanoid element selected from the group consisting of cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), and ytterbium (Yb).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 2, wherein
a ratio (n1/n2) of a refractive index (n1) of the resin to a refractive index (n2) of the inorganic fluorescent material is in a range of 0.90 to 1.10.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 2, which
further contains filler particles.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 2, which
further contains a neutron insensitive phosphor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

A neutron detector comprising the neutron scintillator according to claim 2 and a photodetector.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 1, wherein
a ratio (n1/n2) of a refractive index (n1) of the resin to a refractive index (n2) of the inorganic fluorescent material is in a range of 0.90 to 1.10.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 7, which
further contains filler particles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 7, which
further contains a neutron insensitive phosphor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

A neutron detector comprising the neutron scintillator according to claim 7 and a photodetector.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 1, which
further contains filler particles.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 11, wherein
a ratio (n1/n3) of a refractive index (n1) of the resin to a refractive index (n3) of the filler particles is in a range of 0.90 to 1.10.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 12, which
further contains a neutron insensitive phosphor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A neutron detector comprising the neutron scintillator according to claim 12 and a photodetector.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 11, which
further contains a neutron insensitive phosphor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

A neutron detector comprising the neutron scintillator according to claim 11 and a photodetector.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The neutron scintillator according to claim 1, which
further contains a neutron insensitive phosphor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A neutron detector comprising the neutron scintillator according to claim 17 and a photodetector.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A neutron detector comprising the neutron scintillator according to claim 1 and a photodetector.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The neutron detector according to claim 19, wherein
the neutron scintillator and the photodetector are optically connected together by a wavelength shifter composed of a wavelength shifting fiber or a wavelength shifting sheet.