Visible colorimetric dosimetry of UV and ionizing radiations by a dual-module photochromic nanocluster
Huangjie Lu, Jian Xie, Xinyu Wang, Yaxing Wang, Zi‐Jian Li, Kariem Diefenbach, Qing‐Jiang Pan, Yuan Qian, Jian‐Qiang Wang, Shuao Wang, Jian Lin
Abstract
Abstract Radiation dosimeters displaying conspicuous response of irradiance are highly desirable, owing to the growing demand of monitoring high-energy radiation and environmental exposure. Herein, we present a case of dosimetry based on a discrete nanocluster, [Th 6 (OH) 4 (O) 4 (H 2 O) 6 ](TPC) 8 (HCOO) 4 ∙4DMF∙H 2 O (Th-SINAP-100), by judiciously incorporating heavy Th 6 polynuclear centers as radiation attenuator and organic linkers as photo-responsive sensor. Interestingly, dual-module photochromic transitions upon multiple external stimuli including UV, β-ray, and γ-ray are integrated into this single material. The striking color change, and more significantly, the visible color transition of luminescence in response to accumulating radiation dose allow an on-site quantitative platform for naked-eye detection of ionization radiations over a broad range (1–80 kGy). Single crystal X-ray diffraction and density functional theory calculations reveal that the dual-module photochromism can be attributed to the π(TPC) → π*(TPC) intermolecular charge transfer driven by enhanced π-π stacking interaction between the adjacent TPC moieties upon irradiation.