{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,5]],"date-time":"2026-09-05T04:09:16Z","timestamp":1788581356180,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,14]],"date-time":"2023-12-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1702512000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100013168","name":"INFN","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["Bolas_Next"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Bolas_Next"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100013168","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The shortage of 3He, a crucial element widely used as a neutron converter in neutron detection applications, has sparked significant research efforts aimed at finding alternative materials, developing appropriate deposition methods, and exploring new detector architectures. This issue has required the exploration of novel approaches to address the challenges faced in neutron detection. Among the available conversion materials, 10B has emerged as one of the most promising choices due to its high neutron-capture cross-section and relatively high Q value. In our previous papers, we delved into the possibility of depositing neutron conversion layers based on 10B using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). We investigated and evaluated the performance of these layers based on various factors, including deposition conditions, substrate properties, and film thickness. Moreover, we successfully developed and tested a device that employed a single conversion layer coupled with a silicon particle detector. In this current study, we present the development of a new device that showcases improved performance in terms of efficiency, sensitivity, and discrimination against \u03b3 background signals. The background signals can arise from the environment or be associated with the neutron field. To achieve these advancements, we considered a new detection geometry that incorporates the simultaneous use of two 10B conversion layers, each with a thickness of 1.5 \u03bcm, along with two solid-state silicon detectors. The primary objective of this design was to enhance the overall detection efficiency when compared to the single-layer geometry. By employing this novel setup, our results demonstrate a significant enhancement in the device\u2019s performance when exposed to a neutron flux from an Am-Be neutron source, emitting a flux of approximately 2.2 \u00d7 106 neutrons per second. Furthermore, we established a noteworthy agreement between the experimental data obtained and the simulation results.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s23249831","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,18]],"date-time":"2023-12-18T11:28:07Z","timestamp":1702898887000},"page":"9831","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Development of a High-Efficiency Device for Thermal Neutron Detection Using a Sandwich of Two High-Purity 10B Enriched Layers"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Chiara","family":"Provenzano","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Engineering of Innovation, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy"},{"name":"National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marcella","family":"Marra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), 73100 Lecce, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Mathematics and Physics \u201cEnnio De Giorgi\u201d, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3512-1665","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna Paola","family":"Caricato","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), 73100 Lecce, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Mathematics and Physics \u201cEnnio De Giorgi\u201d, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7502-2229","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paolo","family":"Finocchiaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INFN\u2014Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4294-7510","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Simone","family":"Amaducci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INFN\u2014Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5519-0786","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabio","family":"Longhitano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN)\u2014Sezione di Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9028-7599","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maurizio","family":"Martino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mathematics and Physics \u201cEnnio De Giorgi\u201d, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2864-1227","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gaetano Elio","family":"Poma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INFN\u2014Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3648-1411","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gianluca","family":"Quarta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), 73100 Lecce, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Mathematics and Physics \u201cEnnio De Giorgi\u201d, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"363","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00810","article-title":"The Development of Boron Analysis and Imaging in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)","volume":"19","author":"Dai","year":"2022","journal-title":"Mol. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"1","article-title":"Readout Electronics for Spatial Distribution Measurement of Neutron Beam Flux in BNCT","volume":"18","author":"Jiang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Instrum."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7441","DOI":"10.1002\/er.7652","article-title":"Boron-containing nonwoven polymeric nanofiber mats as neutron shields in compact nuclear fusion reactors","volume":"46","author":"Kam","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Energy Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"01002","DOI":"10.1051\/epjconf\/202327801002","article-title":"Design Considerations for Boron-Diffused and Implanted 4H-SiC Epitaxial Neutron Detectors for Dosimetry and Monitoring Applications","volume":"278","author":"Ruddy","year":"2023","journal-title":"EPJ Web Conf."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.4103\/rpe.rpe_28_21","article-title":"A study on the optimization of processing parameters of boron-doped CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors for response to thermal neutrons","volume":"45","author":"Sathian","year":"2022","journal-title":"Radiat. Prot. Environ."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aspinall, M., Binnersley, C., Bradnam, S., Croft, S., Joyce, M., Packer, L., and Wild, J. (2022, January 23\u201327). Boron-coated straw detector technology as an alternative to helium-3 and boron trifluoride based proportional counters for ground level neutron monitoring: A design study. Proceedings of the EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria.","DOI":"10.5194\/egusphere-egu22-5376"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physrep.2020.06.003","article-title":"Neutron detection techniques from \u03bceV to GeV","volume":"875","author":"Pietropaolo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Phys. Rep."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Kouzes, R.T. (2023, November 05). The 3He Supply Problem, Available online: www.pnnl.gov\/main\/publications\/external\/technical_reports\/PNNL-18388.pdf."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1140\/epjp\/i2014-14236-6","article-title":"Why new neutron detector materials must replace helium-3","volume":"129","author":"Hurd","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. Phys. J. Plus"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nima.2014.10.046","article-title":"Progress in alternative neutron detection to address the helium-3 shortage","volume":"784","author":"Kouzes","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A Accel. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"431","article-title":"Thermal neutron conversion by high purity 10B-enriched layers: PLD-growth, thickness-dependence and neutron-detection performances","volume":"137","author":"Caricato","year":"2022","journal-title":"EPJP"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"250","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-9002(03)01368-8","article-title":"Geant4\u2014A simulation toolkit","volume":"506","author":"Agostinelli","year":"2003","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A"},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Frosin, C. (2013). Tecniche di Analisi Digitale dei Segnali Prodotti da Rivelatori per Neutroni, Alma Mater Studiorum Universit\u00e0 di Bologna."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nima.2011.03.065","article-title":"A comparison of four different algorithms for pulse-shape discrimination in fast scintillators","volume":"642","author":"Gamagea","year":"2011","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A Accel. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nima.2007.04.174","article-title":"Digital discrimination of neutrons and\/gamma-rays in liquid scintillators using pulse gradient analysis","volume":"578","author":"Aspinall","year":"2007","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A Accel. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"342","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-9002(01)02016-2","article-title":"Discrimination methods between neutron and gamma rays for boron loaded plastic scintillators","volume":"484","author":"Normanda","year":"2002","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A Accel. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nima.2014.12.024","article-title":"Pulse shape discrimination between (fast or thermal) neutrons and gamma rays with plastic scintillators: State of the art","volume":"776","author":"Bertrand","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A Accel. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167636","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nima.2022.167636","article-title":"Neutron \u03b3-ray discrimination based on the property and thickness controls of scintillators using Li glass and LiCAF (Ce) in a \u03b3-ray field","volume":"1046","author":"Kaburagi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A Accel. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2197","DOI":"10.1109\/TNS.2022.3203819","article-title":"Impact of the Detected Scintillation Light Intensity on Neutron-Gamma Discrimination","volume":"69","author":"Caccia","year":"2022","journal-title":"IEEE Ransaction Nucl. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"150","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nima.2015.04.016","article-title":"Pulse shape discrimination using EJ-299-33 plastic scintillator coupled with a Silicon Photomultiplier array","volume":"789","author":"Liao","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A Accel. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"886","DOI":"10.1109\/TRPMS.2022.3154232","article-title":"BeNEdiCTE (Boron NEutron CapTurE): A Versatile Gamma-Ray Detection Module for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy","volume":"6","author":"Caracciolo","year":"2022","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Radiat. Plasma Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5863","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-09676-x","article-title":"Detection and discrimination of neutron capture events for NCEPT dose quantification","volume":"12","author":"Chacon","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110602","DOI":"10.1016\/j.radphyschem.2022.110602","article-title":"Study on neutron\u2013gamma discrimination method based on the KPCA-GMM-ANN","volume":"203","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Radiat. Phys. Chem."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1007\/s41365-022-01054-6","article-title":"Anti-noise performance of the pulse coupled neural network applied in discrimination of neutron and gamma-ray","volume":"33","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nucl. Sci. Tech."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8843","DOI":"10.1103\/PhysRevB.41.8843","article-title":"Pulsed-laser evaporation technique for deposition of thin films: Physics and theoretical model","volume":"41","author":"Singh","year":"1990","journal-title":"Phys. Rev. B"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nima.2017.12.066","article-title":"Absolute efficiency calibration of 6LiF-based solid state thermal neutron detectors","volume":"885","author":"Finocchiaro","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"168721","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nima.2023.168721","article-title":"Survivability of microstructure semiconductor neutron detectors (MSND) in a thermal neutron radiation environment","volume":"1057","author":"Hutchins","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sect. A Accel. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/23\/24\/9831\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T21:38:58Z","timestamp":1760132338000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/23\/24\/9831"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,14]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"24","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12]]}},"alternative-id":["s23249831"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s23249831","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,14]]}}}