Studies on adsorption-desorption of xenon on surface of BC-404 plastic scintillator based on soaking method

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 847; pp. 99 - 103
• Main Authors: Yongchun, Xiang, Tieshuan, Fan, Chuanfei, Zhang, Fei, Luo, Qian, Wang, Rende, Ze, Qingpei, Xiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2017
• Subjects: BC-404 scintillator; Desorption; Soaking method; Surface adsorption; Xenon; γ-rays; Surface adsorption; Desorption; BC-404 scintillator; Soaking method; Xenon; γ-rays
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2016.11.047

The phoswich coincidence detector is used to verify the CTBT treaty by measuring radioxenon and as such needs to possess high detection sensitivity. However, residual xenon adsorbed onto the surface of β detectors greatly influences subsequent measurements of weak samples. In this study, we investigate the adsorption-desorption behavior of xenon on BC-404 scintillator surfaces with different coating thicknesses using the soaking method. The results present the desorption behavior of xenon on a BC-404 surface for the first time. The calculated adsorption capacity for an uncoated surface is consistent with that from previous studies. However, due to factors such as limitations in coating technology, the effectiveness of coating on reducing the “memory effect” of the detector was poor. The proposed method is suitable for studying the adsorption-desorption behavior of gases on solid surfaces due to its simplicity and flexibility. •We investigate the adsorption-desorption of xenon on coated BC-404 surfaces.•The calculated adsorption capacity on an uncoated surface agrees with other results.•The method can be used to simulate xenon adsorption in phoswich detectors.