The monitoring of ionizing radiation-induced damage is increasingly significant, especially within the framework of extraterrestrial missions, and serves as a critical measure to prevent damage to living beings and to materials. In this work, a passive detector for UVC radiations (280–––100 nm) has been obtained by embedding W₁₈O₄₉ nanorods into a polymethyl methacrylate matrix through a bulk in-situ radical polymerization, ensuring a tungsten-based nanostructures homogeneous dispersion. The photochromic nanocomposite was characterized via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FEI-SEM), X-rays Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS), FT-IR, and UV–visible spectroscopies. The efficacy of the UVC sensing was investigated by exposing the nanocomposite to a 254 nm light source and monitoring the sensor response through UV–Vis spectroscopy. Finally, an explanation for the observed photochromic variation is proposed. The nanocomposite thin film exhibits excellent photochromic properties, with a fast and reversible spectroscopic change from colorless to grey-blue color, which could be easily detected visually or by simple optical devices. The obtained system shows a linear detection of UVC rays, from 5000 to 300000µmol/m⁻²(−|-), highlighting its potential for practical applications in environments where robust, flexible and power-independent devices are required.

中文翻译：

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一种用于 UVC 光学检测的热塑性 PMMA@W18O46 纳米复合材料


对电离辐射引起的损害的监测越来越重要，尤其是在外星任务的框架内，并且是防止对生物和材料造成损害的关键措施。在这项工作中，通过将 W O 纳米棒通过本体原位自由基聚合将 W ₁₈ O ₄₉ 纳米棒嵌入聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯基质中，获得了用于 UVC 辐射 （280–––100 nm） 的无源检测器，确保了钨基纳米结构的均匀分散。通过热重分析 （TGA）、差示扫描量热法 （DSC）、凝胶渗透色谱 （GPC）、场发射扫描电子显微镜 （FEI-SEM）、X 射线光电子显微镜 （XPS）、FT-IR 和紫外-可见光谱对光致变色纳米复合材料进行了表征。通过将纳米复合材料暴露在 254 nm 光源下并通过紫外-可见光谱监测传感器响应来研究 UVC 传感的功效。最后，对观察到的光致变色变化提出了解释。纳米复合薄膜表现出优异的光致变色性能，具有从无色到灰蓝色的快速可逆光谱变化，可以很容易地通过肉眼或简单的光学设备检测到。获得的系统显示出对 5000 至 300000μmol/m ⁻² （-|-） 的 UVC 射线的线性检测，突出了它在需要坚固、灵活和电源独立设备的环境中实际应用的潜力。