Conjugated polymers for radiation detection

Abstract

There is a revived interest in the discovery and development of new materials and devices for radiation detection for nuclear non-proliferation and medical imaging. Conjugated polymers emerge as a potential candidate for dosimetry and scintillation. This report provides an overview of the fundamental detection physics and existing materials. The unique semiconductivity and photonic properties of conjugated polymers are discussed in the context of detecting high energy photons such as gamma rays. Approaches to enhance the sensitivity, particularly via the addition of compounds with high atomic numbers, are described.