Development of ZnO Nanorod-Based Scintillators Grown Under a Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Method for Use in Alpha-Particle and Thermal Neutron Detectors

Due to material properties such as sub-nanosecond decay time and high light output, ZnO-based scintillators are being developed as a radiation detector material. In the present work, ZnO nanorods grown via a low temperature hydrothermal method were investigated using photoluminescence (PL) and α-particle testing. Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods of varying lengths were grown and tested. The ZnO nanorod scintillators were compared to a MOCVD grown ZnO scintillator. The low temperature hydrothermal method shows promising performance for low-cost growth of ZnO scintillators for use as α-particle detectors and as a part of thermal neutron detection systems if doped with or in contact with a thermal neutron radiator.