Nanostructured Glass Composite for Self‐Calibrated Radiation Dose Rate Detection

Abstract The wide applications of ionizing radiation in various important technologies such as 3D industrial tomography, mammography, and small‐animal micro‐CT with low energy X‐ray have increased the demand for precise radiation measurement. Detection technologies have undergone remarkable progress, but most of them strictly rely on the complicate calibration process, thus remarkably limiting their applications. Here, a nanostructured glass composite system for self‐calibrated radiation dose rate detection (at 40 keV X‐ray) is described. Results show that the in situ precipitation of LiGa₅O₈ nano‐domains from glass composite results in unique emission centers at ≈496 and ≈718 nm with distinct ionizing radiation response. Subsequently, the radiation level is directly assessed by comparing the radiative transition ratio of these two centers. The nanostructured glass composite can also be constructed into fiber, which exhibits perfect core‐clad configuration and maintains excellent optical activity. The novel principle device with self‐calibrated function is successfully constructed, and the application for online radiation monitoring is demonstrated. The results not only provide an alternative opportunity for developing the next generation of ionizing radiation detection system, but also suggest a powerful pathway for the creation of new optical function through nanocrystallization of glass.