Experimental comparison of dosimetry and detection response of micro/ nano WO3-PVA composite to gamma and neutron beams

Recently, polymeric nanocomposites have been used in dosimetry and detection of gamma rays, but due to their low photon absorption cross section, they exhibit a small sensitivity to gamma rays. In order to overcome this problem, metal oxide particles with a high atomic number are added to the polymer matrix. For this purpose, in this work, tungsten oxide particles (WO3) were distributed in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix via two scales of nano and micro sizes of the fillers with a weight percentage of 20 wt%. A solvent solution was used in fabricating WO3-PVA composite (20 wt%). The FESEM test was performed to verify the composite rheology and to confirm the distribution of tungsten oxide micro/nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix. The quantum efficiency of gamma rays for 60Co was calculated for the aforementioned composite using the MCNP code, which showed an acceptable agreement with the XCOM results. One of the effective factors in detection response and dosimetry of this composite group is the change in the electrical current of the composite due to beam absorption. The dark current and photocurrent of tungsten oxide-polyvinyl alcohol nano/micro composite were measured in gamma and neutron radiation fields respectively by 60Co and 241Am-Be sources using two-probe electrometer in 100 V and 400 V voltages. The results showed that the sensitivity of nanocomposite to gamma rays is better than microcomposite. Also, the signal-to-noise ratio of nanocomposite for gamma-ray in the dose rate of 90-138 mGy/min increased linearly from 5 to 40, while the composite did not show a remarkable response to neutron beams.