With the expanding applications of nuclear technology across various fields, radiation dosimeters have become indispensable tools. Traditional dosimeters face limitations including complex readout procedures and environmental susceptibility. Responsive photonic crystals, a class of structural color materials with unique periodic structures and optical properties, demonstrate significant potential for ionizing radiation detection. This review provides an overview of the radiation response mechanisms of photonic crystals and highlights recent research progress in constructing photonic crystal dosimeters based on radiation-induced degradation, crosslinking, monomer polymerization, 3D printing and refractive index change. Future research directions and potential applications are discussed.



