Optical, Microhardness, and Radiation Shielding Properties of Rare Earth Doped Strontium Barium Titanate Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanocomposites

The amazing role of R-BST nanoparticles addition on some optical, mechanical and radiation shielding properties of PVDF has been studied. For this purpose, R-BST nanoparticles were synthesized by solid-state reaction at 1300 degrees C. R-BST/PVDF nanocomposites were synthesized by solution casting method where R-BST varies by (0, 5, 10, 15, and 25 vol.%). The structure of the nanoparticles and nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), which reveals the existence of the cubic phase structure of R-BST nanoparticles embedded in the PVDF matrix. The morphology of the R-BST nanoparticles was described by transmission electron microscope (TEM), where the grain size of the nanoparticles was around 60-70 nm. The microhardness of the R-BST/PVDF nanocomposite was studied, and the results revealed that it increased by 87.2% as R-BST nanoparticles increased from 0 to 25 vol.% in PVDF matrix. The optical properties of R-BST/PVDF were examined by UV-Vis technique. The transmittance was found to decrease while the absorbance increased with increasing the volume percent of the nanoparticles (R-BST). The optical band gap, extinction coefficient and refractive index of the nanocomposite were studied. The results showed an increase in extinction coefficient and refractive index and a decrease in optical band gap from 2.59 to 2.00 eV as R-BST nanoparticles increased. The gamma shielding properties have been also studied to obtain the gamma radiation shielding effectiveness of these nanocomposite samples with changing R-BST nanoparticle content from 0 to 25 vol%. The linear attenuation coefficient, half value layer, and mass attenuation coefficient have been measured. According to all obtained results, nanocomposites/R-BST nanoparticle samples with various percentages (0, 5, 10, 15, and 25 vol%) can be used as a radiation shielding material.

Automated summary

The study investigates the significant influence of R-BST nanoparticles on the optical, mechanical, and radiation shielding properties of PVDF. R-BST nanoparticles were synthesized through a solid-state reaction at 1300 degrees C. R-BST/PVDF nanocomposites with varying R-BST content (0, 5, 10, 15, and 25 vol.%) were prepared using a solution casting method. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of cubic phase R-BST nanoparticles embedded in the PVDF matrix. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a grain size of approximately 60-70 nm for the R-BST nanoparticles. The microhardness of the R-BST/PVDF nanocomposite increased by 87.2% with increasing R-BST nanoparticle content. UV-Vis spectroscopy indicated a decrease in transmittance and an increase in absorbance with higher volume percent of R-BST nanoparticles. The nanocomposite exhibited increased extinction coefficient and refractive index, and decreased optical band gap, from 2.59 to 2.00 eV as R-BST nanoparticles were incorporated. Additionally, the gamma shielding properties were evaluated, and it was found that the nanocomposite samples with varying R-BST nanoparticle content can be employed as radiation shielding materials.