ZnO 紫外探测器的研究

利用水热法生长的N型优质ZnO晶体材料蒸镀了Au、Ag、Al金属,制备出金属-半导体-金属型(MSM)ZnO紫外探测器,测试了五种接触类型的ZnO紫外探测器(Au-ZnO-Au、Ag-ZnO-Ag、Au-ZnO-Al、Ag-ZnO-Al、Al-ZnO-Al)在365nm紫外光光照前后的I-V特性曲线。实验表明Au-ZnO-Au 型、Ag-ZnO-Ag型的探测器的光电流是暗电流的100 万倍,因此,Au-ZnO-Au型、Ag-ZnO-Ag型的ZnO紫外探测器性能比Au-ZnO-Al、Ag-ZnO-Al、Al-ZnO-Al型的优越。ZnO材料的电阻率对ZnO紫外探测器的光电流有较大的影响。在相同偏压下,电阻率越大,探测器的光电流越小。ZnO ultraviolet(UV) detectors with Metal-Semiconductor-Metal(MSM) structure were fabricated by the vacuum evaporation of Au, Ag, and Al on the n-type ZnO single crystal, which was grown with hydrothermal synthesis method. Five types of MSM ZnO detectors(Au-ZnO-Au, Ag-ZnO-Ag, Au-ZnO-Al, Ag-ZnO-Al,Al-ZnO-Al) were illuminated with 365 nm UV light respectively, and their corresponding I-V(Current-Voltage) characteristics were measured. The UV photocurrent values for Au-ZnO-Au and Ag-ZnO-Ag detectors were 1x106 times than their dark current values, and these facts imply that the Au-ZnO-Au and Ag-ZnO-Ag detectors were rather good UV detectors compared to Au-ZnO-Al, Ag-ZnO-Al, Al-ZnO-Al detectors. The photocurrent of the MSM ZnO detectors was also sensitive to the cubic resistance of the ZnO crystal. And it’s found that the higher resistance rate the ZnO crystal the smaller photocurrent value the detector under the same working voltage.     

Assessment of integrated solar ultraviolet radiation by PM-355 detectors

The increase in environmental solar UV radiation due to depletion of ozone layer is a recent challenge to human health (skin cancer and eye effects) in countries having clear skies. Therefore, applying integrated, passive and inexpensive techniques to assess solar UV radiation is very much essential. Measurements of environmental solar UV radiation in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia area were carried out for a period of two months in the summer period in 1996 using two techniques in parallel namely: passive nuclear track detectors and active solar UV radiometers. Some of the nuclear track detectors were mounted in different conditions such as: under shadow band, on solar tracking mechanism following the solar rays. Others were mounted on perpendicular, tilted and horizontal surfaces in sunlight. All detectors were attached to a wooden background of the same thickness (0.5 cm) to eliminate interference of the heat effect of various support materials and have uniformity of the support materials. The assessment was carried out for different periods extending from two to nine weeks continuously. The investigated period covered the hottest months in Saudi Arabia (July and August) when the sky was clear of clouds. The results indicate linear correlation between alpha track diameters and the integrated exposure to solar UV as measured by the solar UV radiometer for all nuclear track detector positions and orientations. The highest slope has been observed for the detectors placed on solar tracking mechanism following the solar rays and the lowest from detectors oriented under the shadow band on horizontal position (measuring the diffused UV radiation only). The results show that most of the measured UV radiation (60%) were from the diffused UV radiation. The characteristics of the upper layer of the detectors are changed after chemical etching very quickly, with increase in the exposure time to UV solar radiation at certain orientation. The results encourage the use of nuclear track detectors for environmental and personal solar UV dosimetry on a large scale in Saudi Arabia and similar hot and clear-sky countries.     

Low-frequency noises as a tool for UV detector characterisation

Ultraviolet (UV) semiconductor detectors are mainly made of materials with wide energy gap, i.e., of AlGaN, GaP, SiC, and diamond. The article describes methodology of measurements of characteristics of low-frequency noises of UV detectors and presents the developed measuring system. Basing on analysis of noise characteristics of detectors, an optimal working point of detector can be determined. The results of measurements of noise characteristics of UV detectors made of AlGaN are shown. The measurements have been carried out in wide range of temperatures for several values of a detector supply voltage.     

The comparison of ZnO nanowire detectors working under two wavelengths of ultraviolet

Schottky-barrier ultraviolet (UV) detectors based on ZnO-nanowires (NWs) were fabricated with Pt as electrodes in this investigation. The ZnO NWs synthesized by the hydrothermal method were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman and PL spectroscopy. Photoelectric properties under 254 and 365 nm UV light were investigated. It is found that the photo-response properties of the devices under 365 nm UV light are better than those under 254 nm UV light, which is further illustrated by light transmission theory, energy-band diagram and absorption spectra. The results demonstrate that ZnO NWs detectors with selectivity to near-UV (NUV) light are promising candidates in photoelectric devices.     

ZnO基紫外探测器研究进展

近年来，直接带隙宽禁带半导体ZnO（3．37eV）以其优越的光电特性而成为紫外探测领域研究中的新热点。文章介绍了不同类型的ZnO基紫外光敏探测器的结构和性能，并对ZnO基紫外光敏探测器的最新研究进展和应用前景进行探讨和展望。     

The effect of UV exposure on the track and bulk etching rates in different CR-39 plastics

It is observed that for both UK and Japanese CR-39 detectors the mean diameters of fission fragment and alpha tracks from a Cf-252 source become larger as a result of UV exposure; but in the case of ‘UV exposure last’ (i.e. Cf + UV) the diameters are larger than in the case of ‘UV exposure first’ (i.e. UV + Cf). The bulk and track etching rates undergo an increase with UV exposure for the two kids of CR-39.     

Visualization of high radiation field by radiophotoluminescence photography

We have proposed a simple technique for the visualization of high radiation fields by radiophotoluminescence (RPL) photography. Pulverized RPL glass particles were encapsulated into hundreds of polystyrene balls of accumulation-type RPL detectors. The RPL detectors were placed near an intense gamma-ray source. After irradiation, the RPL detectors were uniformly brightened with a UV illuminator. Orange RPL could be observed by the naked eye at doses above 5 Gy. For a dose above 0.5 Gy, a clear RPL photograph was taken with a digital camera. The spatial dose distribution was obtained through digital image processing of the RPL photograph. Therefore, this simple RPL photographing technique using RPL detectors is useful for detecting high levels of radioactivity.     

紫外探测器的辐射定标及标准传递

针对定量化遥感的深入研究和探测器测量精度的提高,本文对紫外波段探测器的标定方法和标准的传递进行了研究。介绍了紫外探测器低温辐射计的工作原理、标准建立过程及发展现状,探讨了美国国家标准研究院（NIST）传递标准探测器的选取和标准传递过程。文中的研究为探测器定标方法的研究提供了理论基础,对提高标准探测器定标精度,促进其工程化应用具有借鉴意义。     

ITON Schottky contacts for GaN based UV photodetectors

Lateral Schottky ultraviolet detectors were fabricated in GaN using indium-tin-oxynitride (ITON) as a contact metal. The GaN semiconductor material was grown on 2 in. sapphire substrate by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The Schottky contact has been realized using ITON that has been deposited using sputter techniques. I-V characteristics have been measured with and without UV illumination. The device shows photo-to-dark current ratios of 10³ at −1 V bias. The spectral responsivity of the UV detectors has been determined. The high spectral responsivity of more than 30 A/W at 240 nm is explained by a high internal gain caused by generation-recombination centers at the ITON/GaN interface. Persistent photocurrent effect has been observed in UV light (on-off) switching operation, time constant and electron capture coefficient of the transition has been determined.     

Visible-blind, ultraviolet-sensitive photodetector based on SrTiO3 single crystal

High-sensitivity and visible-blind ultraviolet (UV) photoconductive detectors based on SrTiO(3) single crystal with interdigitated electrodes are reported. The responsivities of photovoltage and photocurrent can reach 2.13x10(5) V/W and 213 mA/W, respectively, at 330 nm at ambient temperature, and the corresponding quantum efficiency eta reaches 80.2%. The dark current is lower than 50 pA at 10 V bias, and the UV/visible contrast ratio is about four orders of magnitude with a sharp cutoff at 390 nm. The experimental results demonstrate that SrTiO(3) single crystal has potentially wide applications in UV detection.     

表面修饰ZnO纳米线紫外光响应的增强效应

制备了基于单根ZnO纳米线的紫外光探测原型器件,并研究了聚苯乙烯硫酸钠表面修饰对器件紫外响应特性的影响.研究发现,在相同的紫外光照射条件下,表面修饰后的器件对紫外光的探测灵敏度比修饰前提高了3个数量级.I-V特性研究表明,修饰前后器件在光照时的电导没有明显变化,但修饰后器件的暗电导却下降了3个数量级.这说明通过表面修饰降低探测器的暗电导是提高紫外光探测器灵敏度的一条重要途径. 关键词： 紫外光探测器 纳米结构 ZnO 表面修饰     

Design and investigation of UV image detectors

The results of investigation of optical image detectors designed for the largest problem, near-VUV, range of the spectrum are presented. The possibility of using a dual-stage image detection system to appreciably lower the sensitivity threshold and make computer data processing feasible is considered. The integration of a UV module into a wideband image detector is studied.     

空间低能离子探测器的紫外响应测试

在空间离子探测过程中,太阳紫外光也会进入探测器产生光污染信号。为了考察它对离子探测的影响,搭建了一套模拟太阳紫外光污染的地面测试系统,并对自主研制的空间低能离子探测器原理样机进行了紫外响应测试。实验结果表明:沿水平方向进入分析器的紫外光响应可以忽略,而以一定倾斜角进入分析器的紫外光响应计数率约为102~ 103 s−1。根据测试结果,估算出探测器对太阳紫外光的抑制率约为10−8,分析了紫外光污染对探测空间低能离子如质子和 粒子的影响。对于质子,由于其通量大,紫外光的影响不大。而对于通量较小的 粒子,紫外光的影响较大,需要进一步采取有效措施进行抑制。此外,本测试系统可以推广到其它空间粒子探测器的太阳紫外光污染的地面模拟测试。In the detection of space ions, solar ultraviolet (UV) can also enter the detector and generate a noise to the signal of ions. A testing system on the ground is built to test the UV response of detector. Experiments on a home-made principle prototype of space low-energy ion detector are carried out by using this system. The results show that the response of detector to the UV entering the electrostatic analyzer along the horizontal direction can be negligible and counts of the response to the UV along a bias direction are about 102 ~103 s−1. According to the measured results, the UV suppression ratio is estimated to be about 10−8 and the inuence of solar UV on the detection of space low-energy ions such as proton and alpha particle has been analyzed. For proton, the inuence is insigni cant due to its high ux. But for the low ux alpha particle, the inuence of solar UV is noticeable and further rejection is needed. In addition, this system can also be applied to test the UV response of other space particle detectors.     

Hexaborides of rare earths as a sensor material for thermoelectric single-photon detectors

We consider the prospects of crystals of cerium hexaboride CeB₆ and lanthanum-cerium hexaborides (La,Ce)B₆ as a sensitive element in the so-called QVD thermoelectric single-photon detectors, operating at cryogenic temperatures. We have collected and analyzed the values of thermoelectric parameters of CeB₆ and (La,Ce)B₆ available in the literature. On this basis we calculated the energy resolution and photon count rate of the future thermoelectric QVD detectors. We conclude that the detectors on CeB₆ can register a single X-ray photon, and detectors on (La,Ce)B₆ — a single UV photon.     

ZnO单晶和BeZnO合金的生长及其紫外探测器研究

用分子束外延(MBE)的方法在c面蓝宝石衬底上生长出了高质量的ZnO单晶薄膜和BexZn1-xO合金薄膜。X射线光电子能谱(XPS)测试结果表明,合金材料中Be元素的摩尔分数分别为1.8%、4.9%、8.0%和15.3%。在此基础上制备了ZnO基和BexZn1-xO基的金属-半导体-金属(MSM)结构紫外探测器。ZnO单晶探测器的响应波长为375nm,在1V电压下,350nm处的光响应度高达43A/W,光电流和暗电流之比达到105量级。在BexZn1-xO基紫外探测器中,其截止响应波长随着合金中Be含量的增加逐渐蓝移,其中Be0.153-Zn0.847O合金探测器的截止响应波长为366nm,紫外波段和可见波段的光电流之比达到2~3个数量级,具有良好的信噪比。此外,提出了氧气等离子体表面处理降低探测器暗电流的方法,并使ZnO单晶探测器的暗电流降低了4个数量级。     

Effects of electrolyte on ZnO nanostructures synthesized by galvanostatic electrochemical deposition and their UV sensing properties

In this study, ZnO nanorods (NRs) and nanocombs (NCs) are synthesized by simple galvanostatic electrochemical deposition technique, without prepared any ZnO seed-layer or catalyst. The effect of the different morphologies on the UV sensing characteristics has been studied under ambient conditions. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra and time-dependent photoresponse of the ZnO nanostructures exhibited good optical properties. At room temperature, NCs showed superior response with 9% change of its resistance, few seconds response time and fully recovery. Inversely, in high temperature ZnO NRs indicated better response than NCs with the variation of 25% of its resistance. The dependence photoresponse on temperature demonstrated clearly how surface-defects affect on UV response of ZnO nanostructures. Our approach is to provide a simple and cost-effective way to fabricate UV detectors.     

A simple pyroelectric power meter for the FIR range

Pyroelectric detectors are simple and rugged devices for measuring radiation from UV to Millimeter waves. In this paper a pyroelectric power meter using stock components is described. It offers some features as internal chopper background radiation compensation or calibrated detector efficiency control usually not found in commercial instruments. Calibration data at various FIR frequencies are also given.     

Ultraviolet detectors based on ZnO films by thermal oxidation of Zn metallic films

Metallic Zn films were deposited on glass substrates by electron-beam evaporation. ZnO films were synthesized by thermal oxidation of Zn metallic films in air. At the annealing temperature of 550 °C, ZnO nanowires appeared on the surface, which mainly result from the decrease of oxidation rate. A ZnO ultraviolet photodetector was fabricated based on a metal-semiconductor-metal planar structure. The detector showed a large UV photoresponse with an increase of two orders of magnitude. It is concluded that promising UV detectors can be obtained on ZnO films by thermal oxidation of Zn metallic films. The ways of performing spectral response measurements for polycrystalline ZnO films are also discussed.      

Linear energy transfer dependence of Al2O3:C optically stimulated luminescence detectors exposed to therapeutic proton beams

Currently, there are no radiation detectors that can be used for routine measurements of linear energy transfer (LET) in particle therapy clinics. In this work, we characterized the LET dependence of Al₂O₃:C optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) detectors (OSLDs) exposed to therapeutic proton beams in order to evaluate their potential for clinical LET measurements. We evaluated OSLDs that were irradiated with an absorbed dose to water of 0.2 Gy in therapeutic proton beams with average energies ranging between approximately 25 MeV and 200 MeV, resulting in LET in water values between 0.45 and 2.29 keV/μm. We examined two properties of the OSL emission signal in terms of LET dependence: the signal intensities of the blue and ultraviolet (UV) emission bands, and the shapes of the OSL curves. We found that the signal intensity of the UV emission band increased consistently with LET within the range investigated, whereas the intensity of the blue emission band remained constant. Our results also demonstrated that the OSL curve shapes were more LET dependent for signals containing both the blue and UV emission bands than for signals containing only one of the bands. Both metrics we examined in this study – the relative UV/blue emission signal intensities and OSL curve shapes – show potential for LET detection in proton therapy.     

Ultra-long multicolor belts and unique morphologies of tin-doped zinc oxide nanostructures

We demonstrate the synthesis, characterization and application of pure and tin (Sn) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures with unique optical properties. Pencil-shaped nanorods were synthesized using a mixture of pure ZnO and carbon as starting material. The growth mechanism of these nanorods is discussed in detail. Sn-doped ultra-long belt-shape ZnO structures show many different colors in a single belt under fluorescent light in an optical microscope. These different colors are attributed to the presence of different defects in the ZnO lattice. X-ray diffraction and UV–VIS spectroscopy results are in good agreement with each other. A major application for these belts is likely to be in a single-particle sensor. A single belt based UV sensor is also fabricated and the results suggest that these photoconducting belts can serve as highly sensitive UV-light detectors.