UV radiation is known to cause many skin and eye diseases such as cancer. Therefore, it is essential to have a simple method for detecting the quantity and quality of UV radiation from, for example, the Sun.
- This is currently achieved by using mainly organic molecules that change colour under UV radiation. The downside of using these molecules, however, is their poor durability which is due to the fact that the colour changes involve reorganisation of the molecular structure. Organic molecules are thus not very long-lasting for this purpose, says Mika Lastusaari, Docent in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Turku.
Inorganic Materials Chemistry research group of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Turku has developed a synthetic SensoGlow™ material which is based on natural hackmanite and can change colour according to the quantity and quality of UV radiation. This material can be tuned to respond to UVA, UVB or UVC radiation levels, as well as the UV index of the Sun.
- The colour change of the SensoGlow™ material isn't based on structural change but on the electron storage in the material which makes it more durable than organic alternatives. Since the colour change is based on electron storage, the process is reversible. When the material is removed from UV radiation, electrons return to their ground state, and the colour of the material returns to normal, describes Isabella Norrbo, who is doing her doctoral dissertation in the research group.
Because of these properties, the material can be used multiple times. In addition, the production of SensoGlow™ material is very inexpensive due to the fact that it is composed of common elements.
- We believe that it is possible to produce an affordable, versatile, and long-lasting UV radiation detector that could function in everyday use to monitor your UV radiation dose. This monitoring could be done using a mobile app, for example, says Lastusaari.
The colour intensity of the SensoGlow™ material correlates with the dose of radiation. The material could, for example, be used as a sticker attached to a watch. The amount of radiation could be quantified by taking a picture of the sticker with a mobile phone, and a mobile app would indicate the current value of the UV index.
In addition to conducting experimental research, the researchers examined the colour change through computational methods in a collaborative research that was carried out by the University of Lyon in France. The computational results confirmed the experimental findings.
- Through these results, we were able to gain more information on the mechanism related to the colour change, and on colour reversion. In the experimental research on the mechanism of the colour change, we had help from the Department of Physics of the University of Turku, Solar Simulator Finland Ltd., and Uppsala University, says Lastusaari.
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The research has been funded by Business Finland, the Academy of Finland, Nordic Energy Research, Turku University Foundation, University of Turku Graduate School, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, Finnish Cultural Foundation (Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund), and French agency ANR.
Journal
Materials Horizons