Lead-free X-Ray shielding aprons using Zn-doped SnO2 epoxy nanocomposite: A promising alternative to traditional heavy and lead-based materials

Abstract

This report describes the first use of SnO2 nanoparticles with Zn dopants as a light weight and lead-free material for X-ray shielding applications. The material is environmentally friendly and offers high X-ray attenuation properties, making it a promising alternative to traditional heavy and lead-based X-ray shielding materials. The Zn-doped SnO2 nanoparticles were prepared using a sol-gel synthesis technique. This approach enabled the creation of high-quality Zn-doped SnO2 nanoparticles that were then mixed with epoxy polymer and coated onto a nylon mixed rexine cloth with the help of the drop casting technique, and they were treated for X-ray shielding applications. Micro-sized PbO particles were mixed with epoxy resin and coated onto rexine cloth to compare the X-ray shielding properties of the Zn-doped SnO2 nanoparticle. The structural properties were evaluated through X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Raman analysis showed that the prepared SnO2 nanoparticles were in a tetragonal crystal structure. When compared to pure SnO2, the crystallite size of Zn-doped SnO2 nanoparticles was reduced (23.5–18 nm). UV–Visible spectroscopy is used to calculate the bandgap, which is increased as dopant introduced (3.41–3.57 eV). The photoluminescent (PL) study showed where the oxygen vacancy defect peaks originate. The cross-section Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) mapping showed a good coating of Zn doped SnO2 nanoparticle on the rexine cloth. The X-ray shielding abilities were extensively researched using various methods including percentage of attenuation (98–80 %), exposure, half value layer (0.06–0.16 mm), linear attenuation coefficient (μ), and mass attenuation coefficient (8.29–3.32 cm2/g). The findings indicated that 2% Zn-doped SnO2 has outstanding X-ray shielding properties compared to undoped SnO2 and PbO based aprons, making it a potential alternative for lead-free aprons in X-ray shielding applications.