A beta microirradiator

Fabrication of a micro-irradiator probe of 10 μm diameter active area is described. As the β-source, tritiated propionate ions were used. They were electrochemically incorporated into polyaniline layers deposited on platinum disk microelectrodes. The activity of the probes was verified by liquid scintillation counting and by direct imaging of emitted electrons. The simple electrochemical fabrication procedure demonstrates the possibility of preparing micro-irradiatiators (μ-irradiator) with different emitters. These microirradiators are new tools that can safely deliver precise doses of radiation to a microscopic area. As such, they should find application in radiobiology, health physics, materials science and solid-state electronics.