Monitoring α/β Particles Using a Copper Cluster Scintillator Detector

High-energy radiation is widely used in medicine, industry, and scientific research. Meanwhile, the detection of environmental ionizing radiation is essential to ensure the safe use of high-energy radiation. Among radiation detectors, scintillator detectors offer multiple advantages, including simple structure, high sensitivity, excellent environmental adaptability, and a favorable performance-to-price ratio. However, the development of high-performance scintillators that can provide highly sensitive responses to environmental radiation, especially α/β particles, remains a challenge. In this work, a copper cluster (Cu₄I₄(DPPPy)₂) with excellent water-oxygen stability is prepared using a simple one-pot method at room temperature. Cu₄I₄(DPPPy)₂ not only exhibits excellent X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) under X-ray irradiation but also demonstrates a highly sensitive scintillation response to α/β particles. By integrating Cu₄I₄(DPPPy)₂ with a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and nuclear electronics, an α/β surface contamination monitor is successfully developed. This monitor enables the sensitive detection of excessive α/β particles in real-world environments. The detection frequency and signal intensity of Cu₄I₄(DPPPy)₂ significantly surpass those of commercial scintillator of YAP:Ce, BGO, PbWO₄, and anthracene under identical conditions, highlighting the promising application of metal clusters in low-dose environmental radiation detection.