A New Concept of Radiation Detection Based on a Fluorochromic and Piezochromic Nanocluster
Huangjie Lu, Huiliang Hou, Yu-Chang Hou, Zhaofa Zheng, Yingying Ma, Zhengyang Zhou, Xiaofeng Guo, Qing‐Jiang Pan, Yonggang Wang, Yuan Qian, Jian‐Qiang Wang, Jian Lin
Abstract
Developing materials that possess colorimetric responses to external stimuli is a promising strategy for addressing the current challenges in radiation dosimetry. Currently, colorimetric ionizing-radiation-responsive materials remain underexplored, and those with multistimuli response are rare. Herein, the integration of thorium cation and photoresponsive terpyridine carboxylate ligand gives rise to a thorium nanocluster, Th-101, which displays the second case of fluorochromic response and unprecedented piezochromic behavior among all actinide materials. The emission color of Th-101 exhibits a gradual transition from blue to cyan to green upon irradiation with accumulated dose, which renders colorimetric dosimetry of ionizing radiation based on a red–green–blue (RGB) concept. Further fabricating Th-101 into a custom-built optoelectronic device allows for on-site quantification of radiation dose with merits of ease of operation, rapid readout, and cost-effectiveness.