Transparent lithium-6 based polymer scintillation films containing a polymerizable fluor for neutron detection

•A new transparent polymer scintillator containing 2.96 wt% 6Li has been synthesized.•The scintillator is capable of detecting thermal neutrons.•The scintillator demonstrates neutron/gamma-ray discrimination.•The material comprises the matrix, 6Li, and fluor attached to a single molecule.

A novel transparent polymer neutron scintillation material poly[styrene-co-lithium maleate-co-2-phenyl-5-(4-vinylphenyl)oxazole] has been synthesized and characterized for thermal neutron detection and neutron/gamma-ray discrimination. The terpolymer was synthesized using solution-based free radical polymerization and had a composition by mass of 60.64% styrene, 31.64% maleic anhydride, and 7.72% 2-phenyl-5-(4-vinylphenyl)oxazole. The maleic anhydride groups were hydrolyzed and titrated with 6LiOH to form the lithiated terpolymer, resulting in a 6Li content of 2.96% by mass. Monomer and polymer synthesis, film fabrication protocols, photoluminescence, and scintillation responses of this new scintillation material are reported. This approach demonstrates a novel method by which mechanically robust and transparent 6Li-based polymer films can be produced.