A resistive electron irradiation microsensor made from conductive electrospun polycaprolactone fibers loaded with carbon nanotubes and fullerene C60

TL;DR

This study developed a conductive electrospun fiber-based electron radiation detector that increases conductivity upon electron beam exposure, with potential applications in beta radiation sensing.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel resistive microsensor made from electrospun polycaprolactone loaded with carbon nanotubes and fullerene C60, demonstrating permanent conductivity changes after electron irradiation.

Findings

Devices increase conductivity upon electron irradiation at 10 and 20 keV.

Fullerene C60 acts as an efficient electron scavenger, stabilizing negative charges.

The sensor's conductivity depends on electron energy and exposure dose.

Abstract

In this work an electron radiation detector microdevices were fabricated and characterized. The devices consisted of a conductive electrospun mat made of polycaprolactone loaded with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and fullerene C60 deposited onto gold interdigitated microelectrodes. They were capable of permanently increase their conductivity upon exposure to electron beam irradiation from 0.02 pC/{\mu}m2 accelerated at 10 and 20 keV. This phenomenon could be explained due to the ability of C60 to trap and stabilize negative charges and thus contribute to the conductivity of the polymer composite. The devices achieved their maximum conductivity at an irradiation between 0.22 and 0.27 pC/{\mu}m2 and this maximum was dependent of the electron acceleration. Montecarlo simulations were performed to explain dependence as function of electron penetration in the polymer composite. Moreover, the devices irradiated at 20keV maintained their final conductivity and the devices irradiated at 10keV increased their final conductivity after 6 days from irradiation. Fullerenes proved to act as highly efficient electron scavengers within the polymer composite and contribute to its conductivity, and the microdevice has potential application as beta radiation sensors.