Field deployable trace radioisotope analysis through combined electrochemical and alpha spectroscopy methods

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 334; no. 2; pp. 1681 - 1690
• Main Authors: Giglio, Daryl, Cho, Sung Gu, Oksuz, Ibrahim, Remy, Jarod, Kandlakunta, Praneeth, Hlinka, Vasil, Downing, Greg, Co, Anne C., Cao, Lei R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.02.2025; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: 4H-SiC; Actinides; Alpha spectroscopy; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Differential pulse voltammetry; Diodes; Electrodeposition; Electrodes; Energy spectra; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Mass spectrometry; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear emergency response; Nuclear forensics; Nuclear Physics; Oxidation; Physical Chemistry; Plating; Radiation; Radioisotopes; Schottky diodes; Scientific imaging; Sensors; Silicon carbide; Thin films; Nuclear emergency response; 4H-SiC; Nuclear forensics; Alpha spectroscopy; Differential pulse voltammetry
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-024-09942-4

A method for depositing actinides directly onto a 4H-SiC Schottky barrier diode (SBD) detector as a field deployable actinides sensor was developed to enable off-site analysis, shortening the time to obtain critical information such as elements, concentration, and/or isotopic ratio related to the radiological situation. A thin film of Hg was first electrodeposited onto the Pt contact of the SiC diode, followed by chronoamperometric deposition of microgram levels of actinides under conventional control conditions. The 4H-SiC diode maintained consistent functionality through the electrodeposition process and showed resolved alpha-energy spectra that contained accurate isotopic information demonstrating the feasibility of a combined chemical and radiological sensor for field actinide detection and quantification.