Radioluminescence and radiation effects in metal organic framework materials

We have synthesized and tested new highly fluorescent metal organic framework (MOF) materials based on stilbene dicarboxylic acid as a linker. The crystal structure and porosity of the product are dependent on synthetic conditions and choice of solvent and a low-density cubic form has been identified by x-ray diffraction. In this work we report experiments demonstrating scintillation properties of these crystals. Bright proton-induced luminescence with large shifts relative to the fluorescence excitation spectra were recorded, peaking near 475 nm. Tolerance to fast proton radiation was evaluated by monitoring this radio-luminescence to absorbed doses of several hundred MRAD.