Influences of Sr-90 beta-ray irradiation on electrical characteristics of carbon nanoparticles

Abstract

This work is concerned with the low cost fabrication of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), and its application to beta ray detection. The structural and morphological properties of the CNPs were obtained by spectral and microscopy techniques. A system based on CNPs application in the metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) junction platform, which acts as a beta-ray (β-ray) sensor, is fabricated. The prototype is characterised by modelling, Monte Carlo simulation, and electrical investigations. Changes to the electrical behaviour of the proposed MSM system due to β-ray irradiation are validated by experimental results in both Ohmic and non-Ohmic (Schottky) contacts. The simulation was performed using the MCNPX code, which showed that most of the β-ray energies are deposited into CNPs and electrodes. However, in the Ohmic contact, because the β-ray is induced, the current of CNPs is decreased. The reduction of the current might be due to the change of the carrier properties by increasing the scattering of electrons. The current-density equation for electrons was employed for understanding the effects of β-ray in Ohmic contact of CNPs. On the contrary, in the Schottky contact case, CNPs current was increased with constant voltage when biased by β-ray irradiation. In this paper, the electron–hole generation using β-rays is dominant when compared to other significant effects of radiation exposure on semiconducting CNP-based Schottky contact. Hence, the current increment of CNPs can be justified by electron–hole generation in the depletion region.

Synthesis and Characteristics of Carbon Nanotube Using Plasma Arc Discharge

“…The nanoparticles appear to be dense and uniformly distributed. The morphology of the grown CNPs as observed in SEM is comparable to other research who used similar method to synthesize the CNPs [9][10][11][12]. In particular, Ref [9] obtain similar result with us.…”

“…The morphology of the grown CNPs as observed in SEM is comparable to other research who used similar method to synthesize the CNPs [9][10][11][12]. In particular, Ref [9] obtain similar result with us. Both have evenly distributed of the nanoparticles in the bulk.…”

“…From this result, the resistance of the CNPs is extracted to be 7.23 kΩ. The resistance value is higher compared to previous work by Kasani et al in which the resistance of their CNPs was 0.18 kΩ [9]. This can be due to the highly dense nanoparticles produced in this work which impede the movement of electrons, hence affecting the resistance value.…”

“…Both have evenly distributed of the nanoparticles in the bulk. However, the CNPs produced in this work have low density compared to the obtained in Ref [9]. This is an important features of the material for many electronic applications which include sensors and power devices.…”

“…This new application are explored by Ahmadi et al where they successfully demonstrates their CNPs which can emit light after applied high current and electric field towards the CNPs [8]. The CNPs can be fabricated using arc discharge plasma which was explored by a group of researchers who investigated the radiation detector technology [9]. Their arc discharge has two electrodes that made of conducting materials and two pipes that were connected to a chamber.…”