In situ X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Deep Sea Mining Applications
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Engineering and Informatics
Abstract
Traditionally the exploitation of ocean mineral resources has been mainly limited to oil, gas and coal extraction. It is only recently that the economics of mining other minerals has weighed in favour of substantial deep ocean exploration. Due to the challenging environments, extensive surveying of the seabed to inform mining choices is difficult. This increases financial risk as well as the potential for needless damage to surrounding ecosystems.
We propose to develop X-ray fluorescence spectrometer technology based on wide bandgap semiconductors that would enable surveying and characterisation of deep ocean geology in situ. This would eliminate the current problems associated with deep ocean geological surveying and revolutionise deep sea mineral prospecting.
We propose to develop X-ray fluorescence spectrometer technology based on wide bandgap semiconductors that would enable surveying and characterisation of deep ocean geology in situ. This would eliminate the current problems associated with deep ocean geological surveying and revolutionise deep sea mineral prospecting.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Anna Barnett (Principal Investigator) | |
| Robert Prance (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Butera S
(2016)
Characterisation of Al0.52In0.48P mesa p-i-n photodiodes for X-ray photon counting spectroscopy
in Journal of Applied Physics
Butera S
(2018)
Temperature characterisation of spectroscopic InGaP X-ray photodiodes
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Butera S
(2018)
Measurement of the electron-hole pair creation energy in A l 0 . 52 I n 0 . 48 P using X-ray radiation
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Butera S
(2016)
Temperature study of Al0.52In0.48P detector photon counting X-ray spectrometer
in Journal of Applied Physics
Lioliou G
(2016)
4H-SiC Schottky diode arrays for X-ray detection
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Lioliou G
(2016)
Characterization of gallium arsenide X-ray mesa p-i-n photodiodes at room temperature
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Lioliou G
(2017)
High temperature GaAs X-ray detectors
in Journal of Applied Physics
Lioliou G
(2017)
Prototype GaAs X-ray detector and preamplifier electronics for a deep seabed mineral XRF spectrometer
in X-Ray Spectrometry
Lioliou G
(2016)
Gallium Arsenide detectors for X-ray and electron (beta particle) spectroscopy
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Lioliou G
(2016)
Temperature dependent characterization of gallium arsenide X-ray mesa p-i-n photodiodes
in Journal of Applied Physics
Lioliou G
(2018)
GaAs Spectrometer for Planetary Electron Spectroscopy
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Whitaker M
(2020)
GaAs/Al0.8Ga0.2As separate absorption and multiplication region x-ray spectroscopic avalanche photodiodes
in Journal of Applied Physics
Whitaker M
(2020)
Al 0.6 Ga 0.4 As x-ray avalanche photodiodes for spectroscopy
in Semiconductor Science and Technology
Whitaker M
(2018)
Al0.2Ga0.8As 2 × 2 square pixel X-ray photodiode array
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Whitaker M
(2017)
Temperature dependence of Al0.2Ga0.8As X-ray photodiodes for X-ray spectroscopy
in Journal of Applied Physics
Whitaker M
(2020)
AlGaAs two by two pixel detector for electron spectroscopy in space environments
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Zhao S
(2018)
X-ray spectrometer with a low-cost SiC photodiode
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Zhao S
(2018)
Electron spectroscopy with a commercial 4H-SiC photodiode
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
| Description | The state of the art regarding wide bandgap X-ray fluorescence spectrometers has been advanced. The types of X-ray spectrometer investigated have been raised in TRL for the specific application of ocean mining. |
| Exploitation Route | Much of the core research work on the detectors has been published. More will be published soon. We are considering further development to raise the TRL for the specific application of ocean mining. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |