The Influence of Si/Al Ratio, Nanochannels Structure, and Atomic Composition On the Radiation Shielding Efficiency of Na-A and Na-Y Zeolite Frameworks

Abstract

In this study, we explore the photon attenuation properties of Na-A and Na-Y zeolite frameworks, focusing on the influence of their structural features, including Si/Al ratio, nanochannel size, and atomic composition. The mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), and effective atomic number (Z_eff) are analyzed across a broad photon energy spectrum (e.g., 0.015 < E < 15.0 MeV). The results show that Na-A framework has: 4.58 < MAC < 4.82 cm²/g, 6.95 < LAC < 7.27 cm⁻¹, 0.100 < HVL < 0.095 cm, 11.31 < Z_eff < 11.59; while Na-Y framework has: 4.37 < MAC < 4.62 cm²/g, 5.79 < LAC < 5.76 cm⁻¹, HVL≈ 0.12 cm, 11.13 < Z_eff < 11.41 at E = 15.0 keV. While, at E = 15.0 keV, Na-Y with a Si/Al ratio of 9.0 demonstrates the highest LAC value of 7.27 cm⁻¹, surpassing Na-A (with LAC = 5.76 cm⁻¹). A strong correlation is observed between APF and photon attenuation efficiency, with Na-Y framework denser structure with 2.52 < ρ < 2.50 g/cm³, and 0.050 < APF < 0.085 compared to Na-A with 2.20 < ρ < 2.07 g/cm³, 0.035 < APF < 0.062 contributing to better shielding performance. The findings indicate that the Si/Al ratio, nanochannel structure, and atomic composition are crucial factors in optimizing zeolite frameworks for radiation protection applications. This study provides insights into the structural design of zeolites for enhanced photon attenuation, offering a pathway for future applications in radiation shielding and related fields.