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Energy broadening of neutron depth profiles by thin polyamide films

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Abstract

A protective covering is often required for neutron depth profiling (NDP) measurements of sensitive materials (e.g., Li-ion batteries). Addition of this layer can increase NDP profile energy broadening and depth assignment uncertainty. This study evaluates the magnitude of these effects when polyimide films of variable thicknesses are placed over Li-rich solids. Key results include a modeled increase in cold neutron beam attenuation with increased film thickness, a methodology for estimating profile energy broadening using a sigmoidal function, and, when using a thick layer, that the broadening will add uncertainity to the zero-depth position and depth scale assignment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Joe Dura for providing critical feedback on drafts of this manuscript. Use of a thin Kapton layer to filter out the alpha spectrum from the triton NDP spectrum was initially proposed by Dr. Raymond Cao (Ohio State University). Partial funding for this work was provided by the NIST Summer High School Internship. Trade names and commercial products are identified in this paper to specify the experimental procedures in adequate detail. This identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the authors or by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the products identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose. Contributions of the National Institute of Standards and Technology are not subject to copyright.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA

    Jamie L. Weaver, Anna Job & R. Gregory Downing

  2. Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Kedar Manandhar & Ichiro Takeuchi

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  1. Jamie L. Weaver
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  2. Anna Job
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  3. Kedar Manandhar
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  4. Ichiro Takeuchi
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  5. R. Gregory Downing
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Correspondence to Jamie L. Weaver.

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Weaver, J.L., Job, A., Manandhar, K. et al. Energy broadening of neutron depth profiles by thin polyamide films. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 5013–5025 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08517-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08517-5

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