Neutron-absorption gratings fabricated by ultrasound-assisted filling method based on gadolinium particles

Neutron differential phase-contrast imaging (DPCI) plays a pivotal role in analyzing magnetic domain structures and field gradients in materials, necessitating high-quality neutron absorption gratings for enhanced fringe contrast. Traditional fabrication techniques, typically filling gadolinium (Gd) or Gd-containing materials into the corresponding grating structures, face challenges in achieving optimal Gd filling ratios and thickness, limiting the neutron DPCI system’s performance. This paper introduces an approach utilizing ultrasound-assisted filling method to introduce Gd particles into grating trenches with dense deposition, achieving an absorption grating period of 42 μ m. This method achieves an equivalent Gd thickness of 80.3 μ m, corresponding to the filling ratio of 53.53%, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray micro-imaging. The utilization of an ultrasound not only improves the Gd filling ratio, but also suggests potential scalability for large-area grating production, marking a significant advancement in neutron DPCI technology by providing high-quality components.