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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/H047344/1
Title Materials World Collaborative Research: The effect of impurities and defects on the properties of B12As2 and their implications for its devices
Status Completed
Energy Categories Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies) 40%;
Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fusion) 10%;
Not Energy Related 50%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Professor M Kuball
No email address given
Physics
University of Bristol
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 October 2010
End Date 30 September 2013
Duration 36 months
Total Grant Value £1
Industrial Sectors Electronics
Region South West
Programme Physical Sciences
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor M Kuball , Physics, University of Bristol (100.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Boron arsenide (B12As2), abbreviated here as IBA, is a rarely-studied material with two potentially invaluable properties, a thermal neutron capture cross-section that is orders of magnitude larger than most elements (for the boron-10 isotope), and an ability to self-heal radiation damage, i.e., a tremendous radiation hardness. This makes this material of great interest for neutron detectors, beta- and alphacells, and other applications in radiation harsh environments. Bristol, KSU and SUNY demonstrated to date, that it can be grown to good quality, and that working devices, e.g., p-IBA / n-SiC junctions, are possible, and survive initial radiation tests. This was achieved within a previous successful NSF-Materials Network research work between Bristol, KSU and SUNY, "NSF: An investigation into the properties of B12As2, B4C and their heterostructures" (EP/D075033/1), where we also demonstrated what is needed in terms of materials research to elevate IBA to real applications in the long-term: (i) the ability to grow IBA on novel 15R-SiC bulk substrates to achieve single-crystalline IBA growth, which however do not exist to date and will be developed within this project, and (ii) the ability to dope (n- and p-type) IBA to enable multi-functional devices. For this reason, this new materials proposal will result in large steps forward in new materials understanding and research of IBAs well beyond what has been achieved in our earlier joint research work. The international team is essential as knowledge and expertise needed for this research does not exist in a single country. With respect to the previous joint research work, the earlier team has been widened by adding a SiC growth development leader, IEMT/Poland, to this consortium, to enable research and access to novel SiC substrates for IBA growth which is essential for this project. Bristol would be funded by EPSRC, KSU and SUNY by NSF, and IEMT by the Polish funding agency. The ultimate impact of this research will be that we will be able to fabricate high quality custom doped IBA materials, as building blocks for future devices, as neutron detectors in space and border control / homeland security applications, for beta- and alphacells for heart pacemakers and even demonstrate intial device applications, i.e., there is large socio-economic impact of the materials research of the proposed work, for the UK, USA and Poland
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 08/11/11