Fast-Neutron Scintillation with Multi-Quantum-Well 2D Perovskites

Fast-neutron scintillators must efficiently convert neutron energy into detectable light while enabling selectivity between neutrons and the γ-ray background. Here, we report a synthesis strategy for layered two-dimensional (2D) lead halide perovskite scintillators with independent control of the macroscopic detector geometry and microscopic phase composition. Our synthesis approach produces mm-thick, large-area scintillators with a deliberately engineered multi-quantum-well energy landscape, creating an effective spectral separation while retaining nanosecond emission dynamics. Our scintillators exhibit an energy resolution of 5.4% at 662 keV under 137Cs irradiation. Under deuterium-deuterium fusion neutron irradiation, we directly demonstrate neutron and γ-ray event separation by pulse shape discrimination, with a figure of merit of 3.51. Taken together, these results establish multi-quantum-well 2D perovskites as a scalable materials platform that combines fast-neutron sensitivity and selectivity within a controllable detector form factor.

Source: arXiv:2609.28468v1 - http://arxiv.org/abs/2609.28468v1 PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.28468v1 Original Link: http://arxiv.org/abs/2609.28468v1