US Patent 7857993 - Nanocomposite scintillator

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7857993.html

Scintillators are materials that emit light upon absorbing ionized particles and are a primary component for radiation detectors. However, neutron detection can be difficult with scintillators due to their lack of ionization. This patent from UT-Battelle teaches using fluorescent nanocrystals (quantum dots) to improve the reliability and emission intensity of scintillators. Claim 1 reads: 

1. A composite scintillator comprising a non-fluorescent transparent matrix containing therein microscale spheres encapsulating fluorescent nano-sized objects and a neutron target material.