Detection of X?Ray Doses with Color?Changing Hackmanites: Mechanism and Application

Hackmanites, a variety of sodalite with the general formula Na8Al6Si6O24(Cl,S)2, are family nature-based smart materials having ability for reversible photochromism upon UV or X-ray exposure. Being nontoxic, cheap, and durable, hackmanite would be an optimal material visual detection presence X-rays in simple portable systems. However, its X-ray-induced coloring abilities so far known only qualitatively. In this work, combination experimental computational methods is used to reveal mechanism color changing these materials. Finally, their use demonstrated both intensity-based dosimetry photochromic imaging.