TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Revolutionary Scintillation Hydro-Gels: SHINE & SHADE for Enhanced Neutron and Antineutrino Detection

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
Revolutionary Scintillation Hydro-Gels: SHINE & SHADE for Enhanced Neutron and Antineutrino Detection
A groundbreaking, environmentally friendly, and efficient solution for neutron and antineutrino detection, addressing the global need for advanced, non-hazardous detection technologies in nuclear monitoring and safeguards.

Overview:        The increasing scarcity and expense of helium-3 (He-3), a pivotal isotope for neutron detection, have intensified the demand for alternative technologies, especially for applications in nuclear threat detection. The U.S. Department of National and Homeland Security is tasked with safeguarding against the import of special nuclear material (SNM), a task becoming progressively challenging due to He-3 shortages. Additionally, the need for compact, efficient, and non-hazardous antineutrino detectors is crucial for monitoring nuclear reactors and ensuring nonproliferation. Current technologies, primarily liquid scintillators, are plagued with issues related to size, efficiency, stability, and environmental safety, necessitating the development of advanced, eco-friendly alternatives.
Description:    SHINE (Scintillation Hydro-gel for Isotopic Neutron Emitters) and SHADE (Scintillation Hydro-Gel for Antineutrino DEtection) are pioneering gel materials, serving as compact, non-hazardous, and high-efficiency detectors. SHINE, designed for neutron detection, is poised to replace He-3 detectors, leveraging gadolinium (Gd) and strontium diiodide:europium (SrI2(Eu)) for enhanced neutron/gamma discrimination and light yield. SHADE, developed for antineutrino detection, offers a compact and environmentally friendly alternative to current liquid scintillators, utilizing proton-rich scintillators with water-soluble Gd-DTPA to induce inverse beta-decay interactions. Both gels are hybrids between crystal, liquid, and plastic scintillators, amalgamating the advantages of each while mitigating their respective disadvantages, marking them as the next generation in neutron and antineutrino detection technologies.
Benefits:          
•    High Efficiency: Equivalent or higher neutron and antineutrino capture efficiencies compared to current technologies.
•    Environmental Safety: Non-hazardous, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly.
•    Compact & Mobile: Suitable for various applications due to their compact and mobile nature.
•    Cost-Effective: Lower cost and faster production time at ambient temperature.
•    High Resolution: Increased spatial and energy resolution for various applications.
•    Versatile: Can be used in existing He-3 detector systems with minimal retrofit.
Applications:    
Researched Applications:
•    Replacement for He-3 neutron detectors in domestic nuclear material detection by U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and Transportation Security Administration.
•    Nuclear reactor monitoring and safeguards for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nonproliferation efforts.
•    In-situ replacement for He-3 detectors for independent monitoring of nuclear reactors.
Potential Applications:
•    Medical imaging for SPECT, PET, and CT.
•    Health Physics for neutrons and gamma dose monitors.
•    High Energy Physics for particle and photon imaging.
•    Geological survey and mineral exploration.
•    Oil industry applications.
•    Space explorations as a replacement for HpGE.
Development Status: TRL 4 - Component and/or subsystem validation in a laboratory environment.
IP Status:        US Patent Application No. 17/758,395, “Solid State Nuclear Pumped Lasing Sensors for In Pile Reactor Power and Flux Measurement, Direct Energy Conversion, and Related Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1125.  

Managed by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is eager to form commercial collaborations and license our intellectual property to organizations proficient in bringing innovations to the market. We particularly encourage partnerships with small businesses and start-ups. Discover more about collaborating with INL at: https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment. For further inquiries, please contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.

INL’s Technology Deployment department focuses exclusively on licensing intellectual property and partnering with industry collaborators capable of commercializing our innovations. Our goal is to commercialize the technologies developed by INL researchers. We do not engage in purchasing, manufacturing, procurement decisions, or providing funding. Additionally, this is not a call for external services to assist in the development of this technology.