Spatially confined Bi2O3–Ti3C2Tx hybrids reinforced epoxy composites for gamma radiation shielding

Abstract

Hybrids composed of two-dimensional (2D) MXene and nanoparticles have been widely investigated and applied in various fields due to individual merits and the synergistic effects of two components. In this work, Bi2O3–Ti3C2Tx hybrids were synthesized by solvothermal and then Bi2O3–Ti3C2Tx/EP composites were fabricated by injection molding. The Bi2O3 nanoparticles uniformly anchor on the surface of Ti3C2Tx layers through chemical bonding, which not only suppress the collapse of Ti3C2Tx layers, but also limit the agglomeration of the Bi2O3 nanoparticles in epoxy resin. The resultant MB30/EP composite shows excellent γ-ray shielding property, showing the linear attenuation coefficient up to 1.14 cm−1. Due to the synergistic effects of the well dispersed Bi2O3 nanoparticles and the accordion-like Ti3C2Tx multilayers, the Bi2O3–Ti3C2Tx hybrids present the spatial confinement for γ-ray. This work provides a novel strategy for design of spatially confined gamma radiation shielding material by introduction of the multilayer MXene (i.e. Ti3C2Tx). The Bi2O3 nanoparticles disperse well in the epoxy with the help of Ti3C2Tx. This novel kind of spatially confined Bi2O3–Ti3C2Tx/EP composite with excellent gamma radiation shielding property presents broad application prospect in gamma radiation shielding fields.