COLORIMETRIC RADIATION SENSORS
Ryan Hayward, Ph.D.
• Radiation indicators • Wearable patches • Packaging materials • Window panes
• Low-cost and easily prepared • Chemically stable • Straightforward colorimetric read-out • Does not incorporate toxic solvents • Fully reversible response with temperature
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed sensors for detection of ionizing radiation (e.g. X-ray, gamma ray, and electron beam radiation) based on polymer multilayer films. A radiation sensor includes a substrate and a polymer multilayer film including alternating layers of a high refractive index polymer and a low refractive index polymer that give rise to reflected structural color in the visible region of the spectrum. The high refractive index polymer and the low refractive index polymer each comprise repeat units derived from a photo-crosslinkable monomer. A variety of rigid and flexible substrates can be used to fabricate sensors (for example, Figure 1 shows a multilayer polymer fabricated on a Mylar sheet), and polymer multilayer films can be designed to undergo either a blue or red shift (see Figure 2, upper left corner has been exposed to radiation) in response to ionizing radiation. The radiation sensors are useful in preparing various articles, including wearable patches, packaging materials, labels, and window panes.
Dr. Ryan Hayward is a Professor in the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research group focuses on active polymer materials and interfaces and self-assembly of polymers and particles.
Available for Licensing or Sponsored Research
UMA 15-009
Patent Pending
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