Solution-processed flexible Neutron Converter Foils

Solution-processed flexible Neutron Converter Foils | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Solution-processed flexible Neutron Converter Foils Markus Köhli, Mikel Rincón Iglesias, Wen-Shan Zhang, Reshma Jolly, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6932771/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The cost increase of helium-3 has sparked the development of alternative detection technologies, specifically the use of boron carbide converters is one of the pillars of next-generation neutron detectors. While producing high-quality films, sputter-coating is limited in deposition area, and requires costly and energy-intensive vacuum processing. Lithium fluoride can reach a similar performance to boron carbide, yet requiring thicker layers. The field of functional printing offers several advantages to improve cost efficiency, deposition possibilities over large areas and to explore a larger palette of materials applied to mechanically flexible substrates. We investigated the deposition of boron carbide and lithium fluoride materials via bar coating to fabricate high-performance neutron-sensing flexible films. By understanding and characterization of film properties, neutron detection efficiency and outgassing, fabrication processes have been established. First mechanically flexible coated samples of boron carbide and lithium fluoride films have been produced for layer heights between 2 mum 50 mum and binder concentrations between 10 % and 30 % by weight. They show encouraging results in terms of performance and mechanical stability. Due to the industrial readiness of printing technologies we expect a potential pathway towards developing a new generation of neutron converter foils to support the development of state-of-the-art large-area instruments. Lower costs, more detectors, better research. Physical sciences/Physics/Nuclear physics/Experimental nuclear physics Physical sciences/Physics/Techniques and instrumentation/Characterization and analytical techniques Physical sciences/Physics/Techniques and instrumentation/Design synthesis and processing Physical sciences/Materials science/Theory and computation/Computational methods Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials for devices/Sensors and biosensors Physical sciences/Materials science/Techniques and instrumentation/Design synthesis and processing Physical sciences/Materials science/Structural materials/Composites Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials for devices/Electronic devices Physical sciences/Engineering/Electrical and electronic engineering Physical sciences/Mathematics and computing/Software Full Text Additional Declarations Competing interest reported. M.K. and J.W. hold CEO positions at StyX Neutronica GmbH, Germany. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6932771","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":477015606,"identity":"076009d1-8363-47b7-8b2b-0889e25da67a","order_by":0,"name":"Markus Köhli","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Heidelberg University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Markus","middleName":"","lastName":"Köhli","suffix":""},{"id":477015607,"identity":"d29ede84-782f-4c54-8883-b0d6db107405","order_by":1,"name":"Mikel Rincón Iglesias","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Karlsruhe Institute of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mikel","middleName":"Rincón","lastName":"Iglesias","suffix":""},{"id":477015608,"identity":"625cd372-5d62-41f4-866c-44a529589be5","order_by":2,"name":"Wen-Shan Zhang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Heidelberg University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wen-Shan","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""},{"id":477015609,"identity":"e5559ff0-d30a-4c2f-9a81-610ccd8b4061","order_by":3,"name":"Reshma Jolly","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Heidelberg University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Reshma","middleName":"","lastName":"Jolly","suffix":""},{"id":477015610,"identity":"7623bc0b-5adc-4211-a69f-88dd11d5f9bd","order_by":4,"name":"Jonas Marach","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Heidelberg University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jonas","middleName":"","lastName":"Marach","suffix":""},{"id":477015611,"identity":"cda68280-c79c-48a1-b1be-e04553a31219","order_by":5,"name":"Jannis Weimar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Heidelberg University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jannis","middleName":"","lastName":"Weimar","suffix":""},{"id":477015612,"identity":"65793653-ea1c-4c40-bb29-3f771fe6570c","order_by":6,"name":"Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Karlsruhe Institute of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gerardo","middleName":"","lastName":"Hernandez-Sosa","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-19 15:53:21","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6932771/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6932771/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":97976459,"identity":"b4b63062-2516-4921-a8f7-3ad9b4aad9f9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-11 11:54:50","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3395567,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Printing.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6932771/v1_covered_11ae725c-172f-4aac-9201-4d180a882782.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"Competing interest reported. 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