Energy-dependent photochromism at room temperature for visually detecting and distinguishing X-rays.

A radiochromic material with energy-dependent X-ray-induced photochromism was obtained by incorporating a radiosensitive glycolate ligand into an electron-transfer photochromic metalloviologen system. It is highly promising for detecting soft X-rays with energies less than 2 keV and may find application in qualitatively and visually distinguishing the energy range of X-rays.