Detection of radioactive ions: current status of nanomaterial-based sensors

Effective detection of radioactive ions is crucial for protecting the environment and safeguarding human health from radioactive threats. Conventional methods for radioactive ion detection are usually complex, time-consuming, and unsuitable for on-site detections. This paper provides a comprehensive review of novel nanomaterial-based detection systems for sensing radioactive ions. The synthesis, working principles, and performance of sensors based on Quantum Dots (QDs), Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) associated with DNAzymes and Azo compounds, and the integration of these nanomaterials on electrochemical, optical, and microfluidic platforms is summarized, with a particular focus on their application for detecting radioactive ions in complex matrices such as seawater and nuclear wastewater. The challenges and perspectives, including selectivity, anti-interference capability, and reproducibility of nanomaterial-based systems, are also discussed, which provides a clue for developing high-performance, cost‑effective radioactive ion detection platforms.