An investigation into gold nanoparticle-doped sodium-variety zinc borate glasses for gamma and neutron shielding applications

Abstract

Sodium-zinc borate glasses doped with gold nanoparticles have promising shielding properties against gamma rays and neutrons due to several advantageous properties. In the present work, gamma interaction parameters such as MAC, Z_eff, EBF, and EABF have been investigated in the energy range from 0.015 to 15 MeV using Phy-X/PSD software. Z_eff values are found to be higher for 3BZNA and lower for 1BZNA in the medium and higher energy regions. It is also found that 3BZNA glass has lower MFP values than 1BZNA, indicating that 3BZNA glass is the best material for shielding gamma radiation. The MFP data demonstrate that, for energies greater than 1 MeV, BZNA glasses offer superior gamma radiation shielding compared to commercial glass and ordinary concrete. Furthermore, as compared to other glass types, the Z_eff of the 3BZNA version performs better at energies above 0.08 MeV. 3BZNA glass performs better than OC, BMC, SMC, and water in terms of FNRCS values. According to these findings, 3BZNA glass shows promise as a radiation shielding material.