Structural, morphological and gamma radiation shielding characteristics of Gd and Nd doped BaSO4

Abstract

In this study, gamma attenuation properties of Gd and Nd doped barium sulfate (BaSO4) were investigated using a gamma spectrometry system with narrow beam geometry. Materials were synthesized by solid-state synthesis method, and characterized to evaluate their structural, morphological, and radiation shielding properties. The effect of the doping rate was also studied. Linear and mass attenuation coefficients were determined, and from these values, atomic and electronic cross sections, effective atomic number, and electron density, half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), and mean free path (MFP) values were also calculated. The results were compared with XCOM values. It was found that doping Gd and Nd increased the attenuation coefficients in the low-energy region, but their effect was limited at higher photon energies. The same trend is also observed for other calculated parameters such as HVL, TVL, and MFP. The bare BaSO₄ samples, as well as samples doped with Gd and Nd, are found to have high attenuation properties, showing potential in shielding and other dosimetric utilization. Radiation shielding capability was investigated using exposure buildup factor (EBF) calculations via the EpiXS software. The results indicated significantly high EBF values at low photon energies (40–100 keV) and in deep penetration scenarios (>10 mfp). In addition to the radiation attenuation properties, the structural and morphological properties of the samples were also determined by SEM, EDX and XRD methods. The SEM analysis revealed the coexistence of submicron spherical particles and particles with sharp edges, which resulted from the synthesis temperature and the mechanical crushing effect of an agate mortar. EDX analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of dopant elements into the BaSO₄ crystal structure.