NOVELTY - The solid state nuclear detector has a substrate layer for detecting at least fast neutrons associated with a radiation source; and an active material layer deposited onto the substrate layer for detecting at least thermal neutrons associated with the radiation source. The substrate layer and active material layer together detect charged or ionized particles associated with the radiation source.    USE - Solid state nuclear detector, such as gadolinium-oxide based neutron detector, used for wireless detection of nuclear materials using radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags used for large standoff distances and radio frequency (RF) communication to protect the warfighter by detecting nuclear radiation from a distance. Uses include but are not limited for attaching to car windows/windshields, airplane windows, structural components, building windows/architecture, sensors, warfighter apparel including eye glasses, night vision goggles and riflescopes, road signs and radio towers, solar cells, components comprised of glass, military vehicle components, and boats/ship components. Can also be used for dropping off from aerial vehicles, including helicopters or airplanes, into suspected areas of nuclear activity for detecting weapons of mass destruction.    ADVANTAGE - Gadolinium-oxide based detector has zero cooling requirements; low power operation with capabilities of zero power when used as the active material in an RFID; low cost; light weight; transparent; flexible when utilized on polymer substrates; very large area; lower noise; and environmentally and physically robust. Gadolinium-oxide based detector requires no current circuit to display detection, and therefore does not require use of any external power, such as power needed to operate and power the capacitor, pre-amplifier, low level discriminator, or pulse counter and requires no extra time for the detector to cool, such as in high radiation fields.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method for detecting nuclear radiation.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows the schematic, perspective diagram of illustration of wireless detection of nuclear materials using radio-frequency identification tags to detect nuclear radiation from a distance.