Selective surface treatment of thallium bromide (TLBR)-based detectors to improve longevity and/or restore operational capacity thereof
US10020235B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F77/14
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In various approaches room-temperature gamma detector longevity may be improved by selectively removing, or selectively incorporating, alternate halogen component(s) from select surfaces of the detector. According to one embodiment, a method of improving operational longevity of a thallium bromide (TlBr)-based detector includes: selectively treating one or more surfaces of the TlBr-based detector to produce a surface substantially comprising pure TlBr. Similar techniques may be employed to restore a degraded or failed detector. According to another embodiment, a method of forming a TlBr-based detector exhibiting improved operational longevity includes: selectively treating one or more surfaces of the TlBr-based detector to replace Br therein with one or more alternate halogen components while also substantially avoiding replacing some or all of the Br in other surfaces of the TlBr-based detector with the one or more alternate halogen components. Corresponding structures for TlBr-based detectors with improved longevity are also described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.