We report intensive visible light radioluminescence upon X-ray irradiation of archetypal tetranuclear copper(I) iodide complexes containing triphenylphosphine or pyridine ligands in the solid state. These properties, attractive for the design of X-ray responsive materials, can be attributed to the heavy {Cu4I4} cubane-like core, the absence of oxygen quenching of the emissive triplet states, and the high photoluminescence quantum yields. Radioluminescence originates from the same emissive triplet states as those produced by ultraviolet excitation as confirmed by the observed radioluminescence thermochromism. The radioluminescence properties are also preserved after incorporation of these complexes into polystyrene films, making them appealing for the development of plastic scintillators.

Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering Czech Technical University Prague Břehová 7 115 19 Praha 1 Czech Republic

Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences v v i Husinec Řež 1001 250 68 Řež Czech Republic

Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences v v i Cukrovarnická 10 112 162 00 Praha 6 Czech Republic

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