Visible colorimetric dosimetry of UV and ionizing radiations by a dual-module photochromic nanocluster

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 2798 - 8
• Main Authors: Lu, Huangjie, Xie, Jian, Wang, Xin-Yu, Wang, Yaxing, Li, Zi-Jian, Diefenbach, Kariem, Pan, Qing-Jiang, Qian, Yuan, Wang, Jian-Qiang, Wang, Shuao, Lin, Jian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 14.05.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 119/118; 639/301; 639/638/169/895; 639/638/298; 639/638/903; 639/638/911; Charge transfer; Color; Colorimetry; Density functional theory; Dosimeters; Dosimetry; Environmental monitoring; External stimuli; Humanities and Social Sciences; Ionization; Ionizing radiation; Irradiance; Irradiation; Modules; multidisciplinary; Nanoclusters; Photochromism; Radiation; Radiation dosage; Radiation measurement; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Single crystals; Thorium; Ultraviolet radiation; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23190-0

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. Radiation dosimeters that measure ionizing radiations over a broad range and allow for direct readout are desirable. Here, the authors present a dual-mode photochromic thorium-based metal-organic nanocluster that enables direct visible colorimetric dosimetry of UV, β-ray, and γ-ray radiation.