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Highly Water-Stable Uranyl-Cluster Based Metal-Organic Framework for Thermal Adaptive Scintillator
Rui-Qi Huang1, Shao-Zhe Yi1, Wen He1
1MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, Lehn Institute of Functional Materials, IGCME, GBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|March 26, 2026
Summary
We developed a novel uranium-based metal-organic framework (UO-TTP) with unique temperature-adaptive luminescence. This material shows potential for advanced applications like information encryption and X-ray imaging.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Radiochemistry
Background:
- Uranium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are gaining interest due to uranium's unique electronic properties and MOF versatility.
- Accessible 5f orbitals and diverse coordination geometries of uranium atoms contribute to novel material functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a novel 2D-MOF (UO-TTP) with uranium.
- To investigate its unique thermal adaptive scintillating properties and potential applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a 2D-MOF featuring a tetranuclear uranyl cluster.
- Characterization of optical properties including excitation pathways (X-ray, one/two-photon) and emission spectra at different temperatures.
- Evaluation of luminescence stability in water and scintillator performance.
- Exploration of applications in information encryption and X-ray imaging.
Main Results:
- UO-TTP exhibits broad absorption and multi-pathway excitation.
- Room temperature emission at 550 nm with a long decay lifetime (~20 ms).
- Low-temperature emission spectra split into peaks with shortened lifetimes (microseconds), demonstrating a thermal adaptive switch.
- Demonstrated stability in water and qualified scintillator performance.
- Successful application in temperature-time dual-correlated information encryption and X-ray imaging under hot water.
Conclusions:
- UO-TTP possesses unique thermal adaptive luminescence and excellent stability.
- This uranium-organic framework (UOF) shows promise for advanced applications, including secure information encryption and specialized X-ray imaging.
- The study highlights the potential of luminescent UOFs in actinide chemistry research.
