This study examined the gamma-ray and neutron shielding capabilities of cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄), zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄), and cobalt–zinc-doped ferrite (Co₀.₅Zn₀.₅Fe₂O₄) nanocrystals produced by the sol-gel auto-combustion method. The structural and morphological characteristics of the nanocrystals were evaluated using various characterization techniques. XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, FE-SEM, and EDAX were used to determine crystalline structure and morphology of the nanocrystals. Average crystallite sizes were consistent, varying from 19.17–20.24 nm, which resulted in an observable cubic spinel phase in each sample. The radiological parameters were determined with the NaI (Tl) scintillation detector over 122–1330 keV and validated using Phy-X/PSD; mass attenuation coefficient, Z_eff, and the half-value layer. Of the ferrite samples, NPI was shown to have the optimum mass attenuation coefficient (max example: 0.2628 cm²/g at 122 keV) greatest fast-neutron removal coefficient, ∑_R=0.07398 cm⁻¹, and least half value layer (0.6962 cm at 122 keV), confirming significant radiation shielding properties. The effective atomic number (Z_eff) from the composite's was between 26.35 to 27.72. The EABF and EBF was calculated using the geometric progression method. Depending on their sizes and compositions, the results revealed the shielding efficiency of NII and especially high EABF properties of NPI/NPIII, which expressed superior neutron and gamma-ray attenuation. The shielding effectiveness was significantly influenced by particle size and composition, with sample NII demonstrating a relatively high EABF. Furthermore, samples NPI and NPIII exhibited exceptional neutron attenuation and gamma-ray shielding properties along with insulating capabilities that enhance their potential for radiation protection applications.

中文翻译：

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增强先进陶瓷材料的辐射屏蔽性能

本研究考察了溶胶-凝胶自燃法制备的钴铁氧体 （CoFe₂O₄）、锌铁氧体 （ZnFe₂O₄） 和钴锌掺杂铁氧体 （Co₀.₅Zn₀.₅Fe₂O₄） 纳米晶体的伽马射线和中子屏蔽能力。使用各种表征技术评估纳米晶体的结构和形态特征。XRD、FTIR、UV-Vis、FE-SEM 和 EDAX 用于测定纳米晶体的晶体结构和形貌。平均微晶尺寸一致，从 19.17-20.24 nm 不等，这导致每个样品中都出现了可观察到的立方尖晶石相。使用 NaI （Tl） 闪烁探测器在 122–1330 keV 范围内确定放射参数，并使用 Phy-X/PSD 进行验证;质量衰减系数、Z_eff 和半值层。在铁氧体样品中，NPI 显示出最佳的质量衰减系数（最大示例：122 keV 时为 0.2628 cm²/g）、最大的快中子去除系数 _∑R=0.07398 cm⁻¹） 和最小一半值层（122 keV 时为 0.6962 cm），证实了显着的辐射屏蔽性能。复合材料的有效原子序数 （Z_eff） 在 26.35 到 27.72 之间。EABF 和 EBF 是使用几何级数法计算的。根据它们的大小和成分，结果揭示了 NII 的屏蔽效率，尤其是 NPI/NPIII 的高 EABF 特性，它表现出优异的中子和伽马射线衰减。屏蔽效果受粒径和成分的显著影响，样品 NII 表现出相对较高的 EABF。 此外，样品 NPI 和 NPIII 表现出优异的中子衰减和伽马射线屏蔽性能以及绝缘能力，增强了它们在辐射防护应用中的潜力。