High-density perovskite oxide ceramics with enhanced proton stopping power and gamma-ray shielding efficiency

In response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly radiation shielding materials, perovskite oxide ceramics emerge as a significant alternative to conventional radiation shielding solutions. This study investigated the radiation shielding properties of five high-density, different perovskite oxide ceramics (BaTiO 3 (BTO), SrTiO 3 (STO), Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 (BNT), Bi 0.5 K 0.5 TiO 3 (BKT), and Bi 0.5 Li 0.5 TiO 3 (BLT)). The X-ray confirms the successful formation of the perovskite structure of each one. Furthermore, the microstructure analysis shows a uniform particle morphology with an average particle size range from 95 to 780 nm. Stopping cross-section (SCS) and projected range have been evaluated for proton energy extending from 100 keV to 100 MeV. The ceramics trends' SCS has the order of SCS (BaTiO 3 )> SCS (SrTiO 3 )> SCS (Bi 0.5 K 0.5 TiO 3 )> SCS (Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 )> SCS ((Bi 0.5 Li 0.5 )TiO 3 ) around the proton Bragg peak. Additionally, the γ-ray shielding efficacy of the synthesized ceramics was examined utilizing Monte Carlo simulation across the 0.015–15 MeV γ-ray energy range. The studies show that the Bi 0.5 K 0.5 TiO 3 composite's linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) exhibits the highest value, decreasing from 459.116 to 0.278 cm -1 with a 0.015 MeV to 15 MeV γ-ray energy increase. This higher linear attenuation coefficient for Bi 0.5 K 0.5 TiO 3 lowers its lead-equivalent thickness and half-value thickness while it increases its radiation protection efficiency.