Using accelerators to investigate radiation effects in nuclear industry and nuclear medicine

Abstract

The radiation chemistry of metal nanoparticles (NPs) is of great interest in nuclear industries, not just because NPs are products of erosion in reactors but also as deliberate additives as electron scavengers or radio-sensitizers. A lack of understanding of the mechanism of radiation chemistry in the presence of these NPs is part of the reason that research is slow to yield commercial applications. One important step is investigating the reaction of transient species with NPs. In this study, we used accelerator-based techniques to study the reactions of electrons and H atoms (H) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). It was found that only ~8% of protons react with electrons, generated by radiolysis of solid AuNPs of 5 nm stabilized with phenylethyl mercaptan, to form H. The Hs react with the surface of AuNPs and a significant portion of the electron density is on the AuNPs. We also found that AuNPs in aqueous solutions significantly scavenge solvated electrons (SE). Both findings have significant implications in the field of nuclear medicine and energy.