Imagine trying to catch a tiny, invisible particle using a giant, expensive crystal that breaks easily. This project creates a 'smart' plastic-like material filled with tiny glowing crystals that are much cheaper and tougher. It's like replacing a fragile glass sculpture with a durable, high-tech resin that still sees the invisible world perfectly.
Current radiation detectors are either too expensive and fragile (inorganic crystals) or lack the density and effectiveness needed for high-precision work (plastics). This creates a bottleneck in medical diagnostics, security, and fundamental physics research.
The project is developing synthesis protocols for engineered nanocrystals and design criteria for incorporating these crystals into ultra-dense glass and polymer nanocomposites.
If you are a security equipment manufacturer dealing with expensive and fragile radiation scanners — this project developed nanocomposite scintillators that provide a low-cost, scalable alternative for environmental and border monitoring.
If you are a medical device developer dealing with the high cost and weight of inorganic crystals in diagnostics — this project developed ultra-dense nanocomposites that improve energy resolution and reduce production costs.
If you are an inspection firm dealing with the difficulty of scaling radiation detectors for large industrial sites — this project developed a new material design that combines the effectiveness of crystals with the scalability of plastics.
The project aims to replace expensive, energy-intensive inorganic crystals with chemically synthesised nanocrystals in host matrices, which are designed to be low-cost and scalable.
Yes, the project leverages nanochemistry to create materials that offer unmatched mass scalability compared to conventional inorganic crystals.
Based on available project data, the project is in the research and development phase (2023-2027), and specific licensing terms are not yet disclosed.
The nanocomposite detectors are designed to be coupled to custom-made light sensors to create a complete radiation detection system.
The project period runs from 2023-06-01 to 2027-05-31, suggesting that mature prototypes will be available toward the end of this window.
The consortium is research-heavy but includes a strategic 25% industry presence with 2 SMEs. With 8 partners across 5 countries (IT, CH, CZ, ES, FR), the project balances academic depth from 3 universities and 3 research institutes with industrial application, ensuring a path from lab synthesis to economic value.
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