Congratulations to Jacob Blevins, recipient of the 2021 Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Award for his paper entitled “Enabling Ga2O3’s neutron detection capability with boron doping and conversion layer”. It investigates –

[The] emerging oxide semiconductor material, Ga2O3 [that] exhibits excellent physical properties. These physical merits enable Ga2O3’s potential as a high-performance semiconductor neutron detector for extreme condition applications. Here, two approaches are explored, i.e., applying an exterior conversion layer of boron-10 (B-10) on Ga2O3 and directly doping B-10 into Ga2O3 to demonstrate Ga2O3’s capability for neutron detection. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we show the distinct difference in neutron detection efficiency of Ga2O3 when applying direct doping of B-10 into Ga2O3 vs. applying a uniform B-10 conversion layer on top of Ga2O3.

Blevins is from Ashe County, NC and completed his undergraduate degree with us and is now pursuing his doctorate. Jacob has undertaken this work due to “a growing necessity to develop revolutionary neutron detectors for nuclear energy, nuclear physics, medical physics, astrophysics, biological imaging, nonproliferation, and national security. The often-used Helium-3 (He-3) neutron detector is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain due to He-3 shortages. Developing a viable replacement detector that can withstand harsh environments is something that may be assisted by Ga2O3.” He is advised by Dr. Ge Yang, associate professor of nuclear engineering.

This highly competitive national prize is provided on behalf of the US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain. The Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Awards program is designed to: 1) award graduate and undergraduate students for innovative nuclear-technology-relevant research publications, 2) demonstrate the Department of Energy’s commitment to higher education in nuclear-technology-relevant disciplines, and 3) support communications among university students and Department of Energy representatives.