Ultraviolet crosslinking technique creates stable radiation detection materials for medical and space applications

Florida State University researchers have developed a UV-based crosslinking technique to stabilize organic metal halide hybrid materials, making them more robust and water-resistant for radiation detection applications. The method strengthens these materials by connecting molecular components into a network, similar to how vulcanization hardens rubber, dramatically improving their physical durability and practical usability. This advancement expands the potential applications of these engineered materials in medical imaging, radiation therapy, and space technologies.

Florida State University's chemistry team, led by Professor Biwu Ma, has spent nearly a decade studying organic metal halide hybrid materials and their potential across various technological fields. These compounds blend organic and inorganic elements whose properties can be precisely engineered for specific applications. The primary challenge researchers faced was that many of these promising materials lacked durability when exposed to water or polar solvents, limiting their practical use in real-world devices and manufacturing processes.

The new crosslinking approach uses ultraviolet light to chemically bond molecular components into interconnected networks, analogous to how rubber undergoes vulcanization. By designing zero-dimensional structures with reactive groups built into their organic portions, the team created materials that remain processable during manufacturing but become extraordinarily stable once exposed to UV light. Testing confirmed that untreated films dissolved in water, while crosslinked versions withstood prolonged solvent exposure without degradation.