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Evaluation of Metal Printing and Cleanroom Fabricated SiC and Ga2O3 Radiation Sensors

Taylor, Neil Rutger
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618829289094167

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Nuclear Engineering.
Additive manufacturing (AM) facilitates rapid prototyping, development of novel designs and replacement of older fabrication techniques. This technique, while still expanding, is being researched to replace current electronic and sensor fabrication methods. AM offers many advantages including fast production times, on hand production capabilities, and customizability. The nuclear industry has begun exploring the possibility of using additive manufacturing for future and current reactor designs and construction. Sensor development is one area within the nuclear realm, where AM could make tremendous improvements. Rapid prototyping of future instrumentation would allow for a faster and better design process where ideas can be tested and modified easily. This paper details the development of an additive manufactured sensor for radiation detection purposes for the nuclear industry. Instrumentation serves many purposes in the nuclear industry from sensors to monitor power that must withstand a harsh reactor environment to precise energy spectroscopy of samples for isotope identification and quantification. Some devices, such as those used in alpha spectroscopy like solid-state semiconductor detectors, require a cleanroom and many different tools and procedures to fabricate completely. AM offers a unique opportunity to fabricate these devices while minimizing the required cleanroom work and equipment and replacing it with fast and easy to use AM machines. Aerosol inkjet deposition is a type of 3D printing that enables the deposition of functional material onto a substrate. This technique can be used for metals, biological material, and dielectrics. Fabrication of radiation and temperature sensors can be achieved rapidly and easily through the deposition of metal nanoparticle inks onto a semiconductor wafer. These devices offer a simple, yet effective device configuration capable of high energy resolution alpha and gamma spectroscopy depending on the semiconductor material. They represent a well-suited candidate for the implementation of AM into the nuclear field. Silicon represents a widely available and commercially proven semiconductor material that can create very high resolution alpha detectors. Silicon carbide, a wide band gap semiconductor, has been explored as an alternative to silicon that can operate at elevated temperatures and harsh environments. These materials serve as ideal candidates for the testing and comparison of 3D printed radiation and temperature sensors. Silicon carbide Schottky diode radiation detectors were fabricated using aerosol inkjet deposition and compared to commercially available silicon detectors and current best cleanroom fabricated silicon carbide devices. A variety of metal inks including gold, silver, nickel, and platinum were all tested. The temperature sensing capability of the silicon carbide devices were explored as a possible dual use of the devices. The temperature sensing of the devices was further explored using a wireless passive printed device. Simulation of printed layer’s effect on resolution and the detection capability of the printed devices were simulated using MCNP and SRIM. Hexagonal boron nitride ink was printed on top of previously printed devices to investigate the ability to print a neutron conversion layer. Gallium oxide stands as another wide bandgap material for possible usage as next generation power electronic devices and radiation detectors. This material has similar properties to silicon carbide such as a high band gap, high breakdown electric field, and good thermal and chemical stability. Devices fabricated from gallium oxide were characterized electrically and tested for their radiation detection capabilities through alpha and X-ray irradiation.
Raymond Cao (Advisor)
Thomas Blue (Committee Member)
Anant Agarwal (Committee Member)
Pooran Joshi (Committee Member)
218 p.
Nuclear Engineering
semiconductors; radiation detection; alpha spectroscopy; aerosol inkjet printing; silicon carbide; gallium oxide

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Taylor, N. R. (2021). Evaluation of Metal Printing and Cleanroom Fabricated SiC and Ga2O3 Radiation Sensors [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618829289094167

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Taylor, Neil. Evaluation of Metal Printing and Cleanroom Fabricated SiC and Ga2O3 Radiation Sensors. 2021. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618829289094167.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Taylor, Neil. "Evaluation of Metal Printing and Cleanroom Fabricated SiC and Ga2O3 Radiation Sensors." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618829289094167

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1618829289094167
211
© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.