Novel semiconducting polymers have been formed via the electron-induced cross-linking of orthocarborane B10C2H2 and 1,4-diaminobenzene. The films were formed by co-condensation of the molecular precursors and 200 eV electron-induced cross-linking under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions. Ultraviolet photoemission spectra show that the compound films display a shift of the valence band maximum from ˜4.3 eV below the Fermi level for pure boron carbide to −1.7 eV below the Fermi level when diaminobenzene is added. The surface photovoltage effect decreases with decreasing B/N atomic ratio. A neutron detector comprises the polymer as the p-type semiconductor to be paired with an n-type semiconductor.