You are here

Nanocrystalline Mg-Doped Zinc Oxide Scintillator for UV Detectors

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX14CG50P
Agency Tracking Number: 145418
Amount: $125,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: S1.04
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2014
Award Year: 2014
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2014-06-20
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2014-12-19
Small Business Information
2809-K Merrilee Drive
Fairfax, VA 22031-4409
United States
DUNS: 167433531
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 Tirumalai Sudarshan
 Principal Investigator
 (703) 560-1371
 sudarshan@matmod.com
Business Contact
 Tirumalai Sudarshan
Title: Business Official
Phone: (703) 560-1371
Email: sudarshan@matmod.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

NASA uses detectors for a broad range of wavelengths from UV to gamma for applications in astrophysics, earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science. Mg-doped ZnO exhibits room temperature, sub-nanosecond luminescence making it promising for use as a scintillator for UV detectors. The realization of the potential of Mg-doped ZnO as a scintillator is currently hampered by the relatively poor light yield and a unavailability of large single crystals with suitable scintillation characteristics. Growing large single-crystal boules having uniform activator concentration coupled with uniform optical quality are a major setback for single crystal technology. MMI proposes to develop a process for the fabrication of polycrystalline nanostructured Mg-doped ZnO scintillators. A solution based process will be used to synthesize Mg-doped ZnO nanocrystals, which will be compacted to high density using MMI's proprietary plasma pressure compaction process. The scintillation properties vis-?-vis morphology will be analyzed and the process will be optimized for further scale-up and integration to UV detectors.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government