Space‐Oriented Charge‐Transfer Semiconductive Coordination Polymer for Direct X‐Ray Detection and Imaging

ABSTRACT The structural discontinuity and poor orbital overlap between organic and inorganic units in traditional coordination polymers (CPs) induce a high energy barrier for charge transfer. The insulation limits their application in high‐energy radiation detection and imaging. In this study, we present a chelation coordination strategy that precisely controls ligand spatial orientation through strong coordinate bonds. A novel 3D chelating CP [Pb(IQS)] n 1 (H 2 IQS = 7‐iodo‐8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid) was synthesized. The chelation bond constrains the ligand's spatial position and direction. Along the long‐range ordered π – π stacking direction, an efficient 1D space‐oriented low‐energy charge‐transport pathway is generated by close alignment and sufficient orbital overlap between ligands. Optoelectronic testing confirms that 1 exhibits typical semiconductor properties. The single crystal X‐ray detector derived from 1 shows a sensitivity of 9305.35 µC Gy air −1 cm −2 and a detection limit of 0.545 µGy/s, outperforming most comparable materials and commercial α‐Se detectors. Additionally, the robust chelating coordinate bonds enhance the material's thermal stability and chemical resistance. Building upon its X‐ray detection capabilities and outstanding stability, we further prepared a 5 × 5 pixelated flexible 1 ‐based composite film for X‐ray imaging device to demonstrate its potential application in the direct X‐ray imaging.