Color-tunable X-ray scintillation based on a series of isotypic lanthanide-organic frameworks

For the first time, we report intense X-ray scintillation enabled by a series of isotypic lanthanide (Eu and Tb) based metal-organic frameworks, initially showing a very efficient X-ray to visible light luminescence conversion. By systematic adjusting of the molar ratio of Eu3+ and Tb3+ in the same MOF structure as a traditional strategy for color-tuning in lanthanide-based photoluminescent materials, linear multicolor visualization of X-ray radiation from red to green can be facilely achieved, providing a new class of scintillating materials with continuous color tunability that can be customized for desired purposes. Moreover, these lanthanide-organic framework based scintillators exhibit excellent radiation resistance and humidity stability, in comparison with the state of the art and commercially-available X-ray scintillator, CsI:Tl.