AVS 63rd International Symposium & Exhibition
    Electronic Materials and Photonics Thursday Sessions
       Session EM+AC+SS+TF-ThM

Paper EM+AC+SS+TF-ThM12
Understanding the Electrical Properties of U3O8 for Direct Conversion Neutron Detectors

Thursday, November 10, 2016, 11:40 am, Room 102A

Session: Radiation Detection Materials and Devices
Presenter: Brandon Shaver, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
Authors: B.C. Shaver, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
S. Lawson, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
B. Musicó, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
S. Dhungana, University of Missouri-Kansas City
G. Bhattarai, University of Missouri-Kansas City
M.M. Paquette, University of Missouri-Kansas City
A.N. Caruso, University of Missouri-Kansas City
T. Meek, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
Correspondent: Click to Email
With a high neutron fission cross section for 238U, U3O8 is one of a series of uranium oxide semiconductors that may be suitable for direct-conversion neutron detectors. However, the electrical transport properties of U3O8 are not well-characterized: the literature that does exist reports largely inconsistent resistivity values, and similarly contradictory values for work function. One of the reasons for these wide ranges is that slight changes in stoichiometry in urania-based systems, UO2 for example, can have a tremendous influence on electrical properties; however, the details of these effects are not well-understood. We seek to rigorously characterize the electrical transport properties in U3O8 to understand the range of values that can be achieved and—importantly—their relationship to fabrication method as well as composition/microstructure. Samples of U3O8 pellets have been made by uniaxial pressing of U3O8 powder and subsequent sintering under various conditions. These samples have then been characterized to determined their microstructure, exact stoichiometric composition, and electrical properties. By carefully studying the relationship between sample preparation and electrical properties, we aim to establish the ability to control and optimize the electrical transport metrics of U3O8 critical for detection applications.