Influence of neutron irradiation and temperature on the electric conductivity of SiO2 nanoparticles

• Influence of neutron flux on the electric conductivity of nano silica.
• The electric conductivity of neutron irradiated nano SiO2 increases up to 30 times.
• Influence of temperature and frequency on the electric conductivity of nano silica.

At different frequency range it has been studied the influence of temperature and amount of falling neutrons on nano SiO2 irradiated with neutrons. It has been revealed that it is generated additional electroactive radiation defects under the influence of rays omitted from activation products or direct neutron. Thus, the change of neutron flux at 6.7 × 1017 ∼ 2.7 × 1018 cm−2 s−1 range increases the electric conductivity of nano SiO2 for approximately 30 times. It has been revealed two temperature ranges at temperature dependence of non-irradiated sample and three temperature ranges at a neutron irradiated-sample. It has been put forward the mechanism that explains the obtained results.