Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) based diodes for ionizing radiation dosimetry applications

Accurate measurements of radiation dose are essential prerequisites for the safe and effective use of ionizing radiation in diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications. Recently, dosimeters based on organic polymers have been developed for this purpose. In this work, Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) based organic diodes were evaluated as potential radiation dosimeters by quantifying the radiation-induced photocurrent under various measurement conditions. Control devices were fabricated in which the P3HT was replaced by polystyrene (PS) for the purpose of quantifying the non-photocurrent contribution to the measured signal. Net photocurrent was determined by subtracting the signal from the PS devices from the signal in the P3HT devices under identical measurement conditions. The responses of these devices were tested in various beam qualities: 100 kVp, 180 kVp, 300 kVp and 6 MV, 18 MV photons. The influences of electric field, film thickness and dose rate on dosimeter sensitivity were investigated. The diodes produced a linear increase in current with increasing dose rate. They demonstrated an increase in sensitivity with increased instantaneous dose rate and an increase in sensitivity at the lowest average dose rates studied here. The sensitivities for different energies were 22.9 nC/Gy, 21.8 nC/Gy and 21.4 nC/Gy for 100 kVp, 180 kVp and 300 kVp, respectively; and 14.5 nC/Gy, 14.7 nC/Gy for 6 MV and 18 MV, respectively for device with P3HT thickness 29 μm.