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Current state-of-the-art nanotechnology offers multiple benefits for radiation sensing applications. These include the
ability to incorporate nano-sized radiation indicators into widely used materials such as paint, corrosion-resistant
coatings, and ceramics to create nano-composite materials that can be widely used in everyday life. Additionally,
nanotechnology may lead to the development of ultra-low power, flexible detection systems that can be embedded in
clothing or other systems. Graphene, a single layer of graphite, exhibits exceptional electronic and structural properties,
and is being investigated for high-frequency devices and sensors. Previous work indicates that graphene-oxide (GO) - a
derivative of graphene - exhibits luminescent properties that can be tailored based on chemistry; however, exploration of
graphene-oxide's ability to provide a sufficient change in luminescent properties when exposed to gamma or neutron
radiation has not been carried out. We investigate the mechanisms of radiation-induced chemical modifications and
radiation damage induced shifts in luminescence in graphene-oxide materials to provide a fundamental foundation for
further development of radiation sensitive detection architectures. Additionally, we investigate the integration of
hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with graphene-based devices to evaluate radiation induced conductivity in nanoscale
devices. Importantly, we demonstrate the sensitivity of graphene transport properties to the presence of alpha particles,
and discuss the successful integration of hBN with large area graphene electrodes as a means to provide the foundation
for large-area nanoscale radiation sensors.
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