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A nanosponge captures and reveals dangerous radioactive gases

2023-05-30T08:22:07.270Z

Highlights: A nanosponge capable of absorbing and detecting radioactive gases has been obtained by researchers from the University of Milano-Bicocca. The new material could find application in the monitoring of nuclear power plants as well as in the management of contrast agents used in diagnostic tests in medicine. Current detectors, based on liquid scintillators, require laborious and expensive preparations, and their sensitivity is severely limited by the solubility of the gases. The sparkling nanosponges is able to capture radioactive gas atoms, with which it interacts by emitting light.


A nanosponge capable of absorbing and detecting radioactive gases dangerous to health and pollutants to the environment has been obtained by researchers from the Department of Materials Science of the University of Milan-Bicocca, led by Angelo Monguzzi, Angiolina Comotti, Silvia Bracco and Anna Vedda (ANSA)


A nanosponge capable of absorbing and detecting radioactive gases dangerous to health and pollutants to the environment has been obtained by researchers from the Department of Materials Science of the University of Milano-Bicocca, led by Angelo Monguzzi, Angiolina Comotti, Silvia Bracco and Anna Vedda. The new material, described in the journal Nature Photonics, could find application in the monitoring of nuclear power plants as well as in the management of contrast agents used in diagnostic tests in medicine.

"Current detectors, based on liquid scintillators, require laborious and expensive preparations, and their sensitivity is severely limited by the solubility of the gases. The technological challenge from which we started - explains Monguzzi - was to identify new solid scintillator materials that were simultaneously able to concentrate the radioactive gas and emit visible light, revealed with high sensitivity".

The sparkling nanosponge developed by the Bicocca researchers is able to capture radioactive gas atoms, with which it interacts by emitting light. This process makes it possible to measure hazardous substances with greater precision and to identify much smaller quantities than in the past.

"Our material has shown a higher sensitivity than the detectors currently available on the market," underlines Comotti. "We will therefore continue our research following a development program to create a prototype able to replace the technologies in use for the detection of these substances with a simpler, less expensive and much more performing device"

Source: ansa

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