The Gamma and Neutron Shielding Performance of CeO2 and Er2O3 Doped Al2Si2O5(OH)4–KAlSi3O8–SiO2 Ceramics

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of cerium oxide (CeO<inf>2</inf>) and erbium oxide (Er<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>) doping on conventionally produced Al<inf>2</inf>Si<inf>2</inf>O<inf>5</inf>(OH)<inf>4</inf>–KAlSi<inf>3</inf>O<inf>8</inf>–SiO<inf>2</inf> ceramics for potential photon and neutron shielding applications. The experimental setup involved measuring photon intensities at various energies emitted by a Barium-133 radioisotope. From these measurements, key shielding properties such as the mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), half-value thickness (Δ<inf>0</inf>.<inf>5</inf>), mean free path (λ), effective atomic number (Z<inf>eff</inf>), and electron density (N<inf>el</inf>) were derived. These experimental results were then compared with theoretical values obtained using the EpiXS program. In addition, the equivalent absorbed dose (EAD) for fast neutrons was measured using a BF<inf>3</inf> gas proportional neutron detector and a241Am/Be neutron source. Theoretical fast neutron shielding parameters (Σ<inf>R</inf>) were also calculated. The findings indicate that doping ceramics with CeO<inf>2</inf> and Er<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> significantly enhances their shielding performance against both photons and neutrons. Furthermore, the ability to adjust the doping concentrations suggests that these materials can be tailored for specific radiation protection applications. The data generated in this study may prove highly valuable for radiation shielding in nuclear reactors, medical radiation protection, and other environments with high radiation exposure. In conclusion, the Er30 ceramic exhibited outstanding shielding performance against both gamma radiation and fast neutrons, with the 30 % Er<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> addition significantly improving its attenuation capabilities of ceramic and establishing it as a highly effective material for dual shielding applications. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd