Photonic polymer multilayers for colorimetric radiation sensing
AssigneeUniversity of Massachusetts
InventorsRyan Hayward, Maria Chiappelli
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Abstract
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. The high refractive index polymer and the low refractive index polymer each comprise repeat units derived from a photo-crosslinkable monomer. The radiation sensors are useful in preparing various articles, including wearable patches, packaging materials, labels, and window panes. Also described is a method of detecting radiation using the radiation sensors.
Claims20
A radiation sensor comprising,
- a substrate;
- a polymer multilayer film comprising alternating layers of a high refractive index polymer and a low refractive index polymer;
- wherein the high refractive index polymer comprises repeat units derived from a first photo-crosslinkable monomer;
- and
- wherein the low refractive index polymer consists of repeat units derived from a second photo-crosslinkable monomer and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of C1-12 alkyl (meth)acrylates, C1-12 aryl (meth)acrylates, macromeric (meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylic acids, alpha olefins, vinyl esters, vinyl alkyl ethers, styrenic monomers, fluorinated monomers, and combinations thereof.
An article comprising a radiation sensor, the radiation sensor comprising,
- a substrate;
- a polymer multilayer film comprising alternating layers of a high refractive index polymer and a low refractive index polymer;
- wherein the high refractive index polymer comprises repeat units derived from a first photo-crosslinkable monomer;
- and
- wherein the low refractive index polymer consists of repeat units derived from a second photo-crosslinkable monomer and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of C1-12 alkyl (meth)acrylates, C1-12 aryl (meth)acrylates, macromeric (meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylic acids, alpha olefins, vinyl esters, vinyl alkyl ethers, styrenic monomers, fluorinated monomers, and combinations thereof;
- wherein the article is a wearable patch, a packaging material, a label, or a window pane.
A method of detecting radiation, the method comprising,
- exposing to ionizing radiation a radiation sensor comprising,
- a substrate;
- a polymer multilayer film comprising alternating layers of a high refractive index polymer and a low refractive index polymer;
- wherein the high refractive index polymer comprises repeat units derived from a first photo-crosslinkable monomer;
- and
- wherein the low refractive index polymer consists of repeat units derived from a second photo-crosslinkable monomer and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of C1-12 alkyl (meth)acrylates, C1-12 aryl (meth)acrylates, macromeric (meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylic acids, alpha olefins, vinyl esters, vinyl alkyl ethers, styrenic monomers, fluorinated monomers, and combinations thereof;
- immersing the sensor in a solvent to swell the low refractive index layers;
- and
- monitoring the sensor for a change in color resulting from exposure to a dose of ionizing radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.