X-rays/gamma rays radiation shielding properties of Barium–Nickel–Iron oxide nanocomposite synthesized via low temperature solution combustion method

Abstract

In the present communication, for the first time Ba–Fe–Ni oxide nanocomposite (BFNONC) was synthesized by using solution combustion method and calcined at 500oC. The synthesized sample was characterized using the techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV–Visible spectrophotometer to determine phase purity, functional group, surface morphology, structural analysis and energy band gap. The presence of diffraction peaks corresponding to BaO, Fe2O3 and NiO clearly confirms the formation of BFNONC. The average crystallite size was found to be 30 nm. The direct energy band gap determined by using Wood and Tauc's relation was found to be 2.1 eV. Further, the X-ray/gamma ray shielding properties of BFNONC in the energy range 0.081–1.332 MeV using NaI (Tl) detector and multi channel analyser (MCA) were measured. The measured shielding parameters are compared with the theory. Above 356 keV energy of X-ray/gamma ray, the measured shielding parameters agrees well with the theory, whereas slight deviation is observed below 356 keV. This deviation is mainly due to the influence of atomic/crystallite size of the BFNONC. This BFNONC finds an application as a shielding material in radiation shielding.