Review of nanomaterial advances for ionizing radiation dosimetry

Abstract

There are a wide range of applications with ionizing radiation and a common theme throughout these is that accurate dosimetry is usually required, although many newer demands are provided by improved features in higher range, multi-spectral and particle type detected. Today, the array of dosimeters includes both offline and online tools, such as gel dosimeters, thermoluminescence (TL), scintillators, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), radiochromic polymeric films, gels, ionization chambers, colorimetry, and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement systems. Several future nanocomposite features and interpretation of their substantial behaviors are discussed that can lead to improvements in specific features, such as (1) lower sensitivity range, (2) less saturation at high range, (3) overall increased dynamic range, (4) superior linearity, (5) linear energy transfer and energy independence, (6) lower cost, (7) higher ease of use, and (8) improved tissue equivalence. Nanophase versions of TL and ESR dosimeters and scintillators each have potential for higher range of linearity, sometimes due to superior charge transfer to the trapping center. Both OSL and ESR detection of nanomaterials can have increased dose sensitivity because of their higher readout sensitivity with nanoscale sensing. New nanocrystalline scintillators, such as perovskite, have fundamentally important advantages in sensitivity and purposeful design for key new applications. Nanoparticle plasmon coupled sensors doped within a lower Zeff material have been an effective way to achieve enhanced sensitivity of many dosimetry systems while still achieving tissue equivalency. These nanomaterial processing techniques and unique combinations of them are key steps that lead to the advanced features. Each must be realized through industrial production and quality control with packaging into dosimetry systems that maximize stability and reproducibility. Ultimately, recommendations for future work in this field of radiation dosimetry were summarized throughout the review.

Visualized X-ray Dosimetry for Multienvironment Applications

“…With an increase in Ho 3+ concentration, the fluorescence decay lifetime of the 5 F 4 / 5 S 2 level decreased significantly, while the fluorescence decay lifetime of the 5 F 5 level was enhanced. This can be attributed to the faster reduction of Ho 3+ ions at the 5 F 4 / 5 S 2 level and their population at the 5 F 5 energy level caused by the CR process: [( 5 F 4 , 5 S 2 ), 5 I 7 ] → [ 5 F 5 , 5 I 6 ] (Figure S13). Thus, the multicolor mechanism of the X-ray-induced photochromic properties in the NCs can also be attributed to the CR effect between doped Ho 3+ ions of different concentrations.…”

“…39 Once the excited levels of lanthanide activators are populated via the absorption of energy from the recombination of the low kinetic energy carriers, X-ray-excited optical luminescence (XEOL) is generated. As the concentration of doped Ho 3+ ions increases, the distance between neighboring Ho 3+ ions becomes shorter, facilitating the CR process [( 5 F 4 , 5 S 2 ), 5 Furthermore, it is noted that the composited films of the NaLuF 4 :xHo 3+ (x = 0.3%, 0.5%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) NCs, encapsulated within epoxy resin (ER), exhibit bright multicolored ML behavior after being charged with distinct X-ray doses (ranging from 394 to 7369 μGy air S −1 ) by the friction-illuminated machine (Figure S14), as given in Figure 3a and Videos S1−S3. The ML behavior of the NaLuF 4 :Ho 3+ @ER composited film was found to be identical to the RL characteristics of the sample (Figure S15).…”

“…The detection of X-ray doses has become a crucial research area, − given the wide range of applications for X-rays in industries such as nuclear industry, , medical diagnosis, , industrial material inspection, , and security checks. , Traditional X-ray dose detection methods rely on devices like thermoluminescent dosimeters, − ionization chambers, , and semiconductor detectors, − which require complex readout instruments to convert X-ray energy into electrical signals. − This approach has led to expensive, time-consuming, and unsuitable on-site real-time dose assessment. , In contrast, photochromic materials capable of direct “visualization” under X-ray irradiation offer a direct and visual means of dose assessment, facilitating real-time evaluation of radiation exposure. Consequently, these intelligent visual materials hold considerable promise in the development of easy and portable systems for the elucidation of X-ray presence in visual inspection setups. − …”

Unveiling Hidden Prints: Optically stimulated luminescence for latent fingerprint detection

“…Smaller powder sizes are associated with better latent fingerprint development since adhesion is enhanced [ 34 ]. However, OSL efficiency is known to decrease with particle size, as it heavily depends on crystalline order [ 35 , 36 ]. Moreover, particle size also affects the safety of operators.…”

Novel Radiochromic Elastomer Dosimeter Based on the Self-Sensitizing Effect of Disulfide Bonds

“…Over the years, various types of dosimeters have seen significant development. − Ionization chambers, one of the early types of gas dosimeters, have drawbacks such as inconvenient portability because of their considerable size and the need for additional components like photomultiplier tubes. Some semiconductor-, , scintillator-, − or recently developed metal–organic framework (MOF) material-based solid-state dosimeters, relying on the process of photoluminescence (PL) or thermoluminescence (TL), , show advantages such as high sensitivity and broad ranges for ionizing irradiation detection. However, these dosimeters may suffer from problems such as rapid fluorescence quenching, requiring dark fields for observation or some necessary external stimulation (UV light or heating) to produce luminescence, which makes it difficult to achieve convenient observation and a suitable recognition period.…”