Hybrid metal organic scintillator materials system and particle detector
| DWPI Title: Hybrid radioluminescent materials system, useful e.g. to discriminate neutron and gamma-ray radiation for detecting fast neutrons, comprises a coordination polymer comprised of metal centers and a linking molecules |
| Abstract: We describe the preparation and characterization of two zinc hybrid luminescent structures based on the flexible and emissive linker molecule, trans-(4-R,4′-R′) stilbene, where R and R′ are mono- or poly-coordinating groups, which retain their luminescence within these solid materials. For example, reaction of trans-4,4′-stilbenedicarboxylic acid and zinc nitrate in the solvent dimethylformamide (DMF) yielded a dense 2-D network featuring zinc in both octahedral and tetrahedral coordination environments connected by trans-stilbene links. Similar reaction in diethylformamide (DEF) at higher temperatures resulted in a porous, 3-D framework structure consisting of two interpenetrating cubic lattices, each featuring basic to zinc carboxylate vertices joined by trans-stilbene, analogous to the isoreticular MOF (IRMOF) series. We demonstrate that the optical properties of both embodiments correlate directly with the local ligand environments observed in the crystal structures. We further demonstrate that these materials produce high luminescent response to proton radiation and high radiation tolerance relative to prior scintillators. These features can be used to create sophisticated scintillating detection sensors. |
| Use: The system is useful to discriminate neutron and gamma-ray radiation for detecting fast neutrons. The system is useful for high-volume cargo screening and portable radiation detection in homeland security, nuclear nonproliferation, medical imaging and therapy, and oil exploration. |
| Advantage: The system: exhibits efficient fluorescence and optical transmission; minimizes plasma quenching effects as ionizing radiation interacts with the hybrid metal-organic framework structure; and provides an active radioluminescent host capable of enhancing the properties of liquid scintillators based on aromatic small molecules. The system detects fast neutrons without degradation of the energy and trajectory information |
| Novelty: Hybrid radioluminescent materials system, comprises a coordination polymer comprised of metal centers and linking molecules, where each of the linking molecules comprises a luminescent moiety and two or more coordinating groups, and the linking molecules interconnect some or all of the metal centers. |
| Filed: 5/4/2007 |
| Application Number: US2007800136A |
| Tech ID: SD 10421.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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