Enhanced radiation hardness of a copper iodine cluster framework scintillator using a bridging macrocyclic ligand...

As an emerging class of inorganic-organic hybrid scintillators, copper iodide clusters have garnered significant research interest owing to their numerous advantages, including structural diversity, high X-ray absorption capacity, superior X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) performance, and low toxicity. However, their practical applications are hindered by insufficient stability, particularly low radiation hardness. Constructing a framework material by connecting copper iodide clusters with bridging ligand has been demonstrated as an effective approach to enhance the stability, while improving the radiation hardness of the copper iodide cluster frameworks remains a challenge. In this study, a non-conjugated bridging macrocyclic AIE ligand was introduced to the copper iodide cluster framework scintillator. The obtained framework exhibits good X-ray excited luminescence and successfully used for high-performance X-ray imaging. The non-conjugated bridging structure of ligand endows the copper iodine cluster framework with excellent radiation hardness, providing a new strategy for the construction of high-performance scintillator.