Low Cost, Robust and High Sensitivity ion-conducting Polycrystalline Radiation Detectors

A detector for gamma irradiation comprises an oxygen ion conducting polycrystalline solid, has positively charged grain boundaries and is coupled to electrodes that measure changes in the poly crystalline solid's ionic conductance. The poly crystalline solid may include lightly doped Gd-doped CeCh, a polycrystalline ion conducting ceramic. The steady state passivation of space charge barriers at grain boundaries that may act as virtual electrodes, capturing radiation-induced electrons, in turn lowering space charge barrier heights, and thereby exclusively modulating the ionic carrier flow within the ceramic electrolytes. Such behavior may allow for an electrical response under low fields, i.e., < 2 V/cm. The polycrystalline solids disclosed herein may be used in inexpensive, sensitive, low-power and miniaturizable solid- state devices, uniquely suited for operating in harsh (high temperature, high humidity, pressure, and/or corrosive) environments.