Descrizione del progetto
Una nuova nanotecnologia potrebbe aiutare a prevenire il terrorismo nucleare
Il plutonio, l’uranio 233 e l’uranio arricchito negli isotopi uranio 233 o uranio 235 sono una categoria speciale di materiali nucleari. Sebbene siano solo leggermente radioattivi, questi cosiddetti materiali nucleari speciali destano preoccupazione perché sono «fissionabili», ovvero potrebbero essere utilizzati in esplosivi nucleari estremamente distruttivi. Il loro basso tasso di emissione spontanea li rende facili da schermare e difficili da rilevare. Con il sostegno del programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, il progetto NASCAR sta sviluppando dispositivi nanostrutturati in grado di effettuare rilevamenti altamente efficienti e di combinare una produzione a basso costo con materiali ecologici e ampiamente disponibili. La tecnologia potrebbe svolgere un ruolo chiave nella prevenzione del terrorismo nucleare.
Obiettivo
Detection of special nuclear materials (SNM), is of vital importance to prevent nuclear terrorism and to secure states’ national security. Neutron detection is a particularly useful tool to identify SNM and neutron-sensitive scintillators have many promising properties, such as ease of use, good time resolution, and high detection efficiency. In this project we develop a new state-of-the art neutron sensitive scintillator using on nanostructured scintillating materials. Based on the early advancements that our research team has made, we propose Li (or B) incorporated nanostructured ZnO devices for highly efficient thermal neutron detection. These devices use a novel nanorod array design that greatly increases the effective surface area and efficiency of the sensor. Cost effective low temperature hydrothermal growth is used to obtain ZnO nanorod arrays. The state-of-the-art design of the nanorod array combines the key advantages of a low cost growth technique together with environmentally friendly and widely available materials.
The Global Fellow (GF) has outstanding experience in Nuclear Science and Technology and has wide expertise in radiation and nuclear physics. The supervisor at the partner organization (Georgia Tech, USA) is a renowned Professor in radiation physics and holds a highly relevant patent. The supervisor at the beneficiary organisation (University of Surrey, UK), has a strong background in the physics of materials for new detectors and has recently developed novel nanocomposite scintillators and organic neutron detectors, both of which are highly relevant to the project. The GF worked on neutron measurements under the supervision of the host at Georgia Tech between 2013-2015, and therefore has the required expertise to deliver this program through effective collaboration with both partner institutions.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsneutrinos
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesnuclear physics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
GU2 7XH Guildford
Regno Unito