Methylviologen-templated layered bimetal phosphate: a multifunctional X-ray-induced photochromic material

X-ray-induced photochromic materials are promising candidates for X-ray detection. An effective strategy to synthesize photochromic materials is the incorporation of photochromic methylviologen (MV) into inorganic open frameworks. It is of great interest to adjust the photochromic behaviour of MV-based materials using designed synthesis of novel anionic open frameworks. A new multifunctional photo-sensitive material, MV-templated layered bimetal phosphate JU99, is presented. It possesses unique X-ray-induced photochromism at room temperature, as well as interesting photoluminescence and photovoltaic activity, all of which are reversible in response to X-ray irradiation. These properties make JU99 an excellent material for X-ray detection.