X-ray / gamma ray radiation shielding properties of a-Bi 2 O 3 synthesized by low temperature solution combustion method

In the present communication, pure and stable a-Bismuth Oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) weresynthesized by low temperature solution combustion method using urea as a fuel and calcined at 500oC. The synthesized sample was characterized by using powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Scanning ElectronMicroscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM),Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and UVeVisible absorption spectroscopy. The PXRDpattern confirms the formation of mono-clinic, stable and low temperature phase a-Bi2O3. The directoptical energy band gap was estimated by usingWood and Tauc's relation which was found to be 2.81 eV. The characterized sample was studied for X-ray/gamma ray shielding properties in the energy range0.081e1.332 MeV using NaI (Tl) detector and multi channel analyzer (MCA). The measured shieldingparameters agrees well with the theory, whereas, slight deviation up to 20% is observed below 356 keV. This deviation is mainly due to the influence of atomic size of the target medium. Furthermore an accuratetheory is necessary to explain the interaction of X-ray/gamma ray with the NPs.The present workopens new window to use this facile, economical, efficient, low temperature method to synthesizenanomaterials for X-ray/gamma ray shielding purpose KCI Citation Count: 0