近日，法国里昂第一大学的Christophe Dujardin及其研究小组与法国巴黎萨克雷大学的Benoit Sabot等人合作并取得一项新进展。经过不懈努力，他们利用纳米多孔无机闪烁体实时检测和鉴别放射性气体混合物。相关研究成果已于2024年9月2日在国际知名学术期刊《自然—光子学》上发表。
该研究团队展示了一种使用气固混合物来克服这些限制的方法。研究人员合成了一种透明且闪烁的纳米多孔材料，即Y3Al5O12:Ce4+气凝胶，并实现了对85Kr的实时检测，效率高达96%，对3H的检测效率为18%。该方法在100秒的测量时间内，灵敏度低于每立方厘米100毫贝克勒尔。
研究人员能够同时测量含有3H和85Kr的混合物，这是之前无法实现的能力。这项研究结果表明，这是一种紧凑且可靠的检测系统，可用于战略放射性气体的在线测量。这一概念与方法的结合提升了核电站的管理水平，并有助于环境保护。除了检测问题，这一概念还为放射性核素计量学开辟了一系列新方法。
据悉，核工业的扩张涵盖了利用小型模块化反应堆进行无碳发电和核燃料再处理，这需要加强对纯β辐射放射性元素（如3H和85Kr）的检测和监测；对于负责环境监测的核安全机构而言，这一努力至关重要。然而，这些气体释放的电子射程较短，使得检测工作面临挑战。
附：英文原文
Title: Real-time detection and discrimination of radioactive gas mixtures using nanoporous inorganic scintillators
Author: Marie-Luce, Raphael, Mai, Pavlo, Lerouge, Frederic, Cheref, Yannis, Pierre, Sylvie, Sabot, Benoit, Chaput, Frederic, Dujardin, Christophe
Issue&Volume: 2024-09-02
Abstract: The nuclear industry’s expansion to encompass carbon-free electricity generation from small modular reactors and nuclear fuel reprocessing necessitates enhanced detection and monitoring of pure beta-emitting radioactive elements such as 3H and 85Kr; this endeavour is crucial for nuclear safety authorities tasked with environmental monitoring. However, the short range of electrons emitted by these gases makes detection challenging. Current methods, such as ionization chambers and liquid scintillation, do not offer at the same time good sensitivity, real-time analysis and ease of implementation. We demonstrate an approach using a gas–solid mixture to overcome these limitations. We synthetized a transparent and scintillating nanoporous material, an aerogel of Y3Al5O12:Ce4+, and achieved real-time detection with an efficiency of 96% for 85Kr and 18% for 3H. The method reaches a sensitivity below 100mBq per cm3 over 100s measurement time. We are able to measure simultaneously as mixtures containing both 3H and 85Kr a capability not possible previously. Our results demonstrate a compact and robust detection system for inline measurement of strategic radioactive gases. This combination of concept and method enhances nuclear power plant management and contributes to environmental safeguarding. Beyond the detection issues, this concept opens a wide field of new methods for radionuclide metrology.
DOI: 10.1038/s41566-024-01507-x
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-024-01507-x