biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)Pino FThermal neutron detection is a key subject for nuclear physics research and also in a wide variety of applications from homeland security to nuclear medicine. In this work, it is proposed a novel flexible and conformable composite thermal neutron scintillator based on a fully enriched Lithium Tetraborate preparation ([Formula: see text]Li[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]) combined with a phosphorescent inorganic scintillator powder (ZnS:Ag), and is then distributed into a polydimethylsiloxane matrix. The proposed scintillator shows a good neutron detection efficiency (max. [Formula: see text] 57% with respect to the commercial EJ-420), an average light output of [Formula: see text] 9000 ph/neutron-capture, a remarkable insensitivity to [Formula: see text]-rays (GaScientific reports4799https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10036633biostudies-literatureNovel flexible and conformable composite neutron scintillator based on fully enriched lithium tetraborate.PMC10036633Maggioni GDelgado JCMantovani GQuaranta AFabris DCarturan SMPolo MMoretto SPino FfalseNovel flexible and conformable composite neutron scintillator based on fully enriched lithium tetraborate.Thermal neutron detection is a key subject for nuclear physics research and also in a wide variety of applications from homeland security to nuclear medicine. In this work, it is proposed a novel flexible and conformable composite thermal neutron scintillator based on a fully enriched Lithium Tetraborate preparation ([Formula: see text]Li[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]) combined with a phosphorescent inorganic scintillator powder (ZnS:Ag), and is then distributed into a polydimethylsiloxane matrix. The proposed scintillator shows a good neutron detection efficiency (max. [Formula: see text] 57% with respect to the commercial EJ-420), an average light output of [Formula: see text] 9000 ph/neutron-capture, a remarkable insensitivity to [Formula: see text]-rays (Ga2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Mar2025-04-18T17:21:12.773Z2025-04-07T04:53:28.68ZS-EPMC100366333695932310.1038/s41598-023-31675-9