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Scintillators are a unique class of luminescent materials with specific applications towards radiation detection. The emitters within state‐of‐the‐art scintillators are mostly limited to bismuth, cerium, europium, thallium, lead, tungsten, etc. A shared feature of these elements is the relatively high atomic number, which is responsible for high radiation stopping power and radiation‐induced luminescence. Searching for new scintillating materials is an essential target aiming at specific applications. In this Concept article, we will discuss our recent works on the topic of "uranyl‐bearing scintillators". As a virgin territory in this field, uranyl‐bearing scintillators show intrinsic merits for designing new materials with X‐ray detection capability, that is, the large photoelectric cross‐section, high X‐ray attenuation efficiency, and high crystal density. In addition, we also present challenges in the further development of the uranyl‐bearing scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The combination of high atomic number and high oxidation state in UVI materials gives rise to both high X‐ray attenuation efficiency and intense green luminescence originating from ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer. These two features suggest that UVI materials might act as superior X‐ray scintillators, but this postulate has remained substantially untested. Now the first observation of intense X‐ray scintillation in a uranyl–organic framework (SCU‐9) that is observable by the naked eye is reported. Combining the advantage in minimizing the non‐radiative relaxation during the X‐ray excitation process over those of inorganic salts of uranium, SCU‐9 exhibits a very efficient X‐ray to green light luminescence conversion. The luminescence intensity shows an essentially linear correlation with the received X‐ray intensity, and is comparable with that of commercially available CsI:Tl. SCU‐9 possesses an improved X‐ray attenuation efficiency (E>20 keV) as well as enhanced radiation resistance and decreased hygroscopy compared to CsI:Tl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: luminescence; radiation detection; scintillators; uranium As a new area in this field, uranyl-bearing scintillators show intrinsic merits for designing new materials with X-ray detection capability, that is, a large photoelectric cross-section, high X-ray attenuation efficiency, and high crystal density. Luminescence, radiation detection, scintillators, uranium. [Extracted from the article]