The impact of NiWO₄ on the enhancement of structural, optical, and radiation shielding properties of PVC nanocomposite films

Herein, NiWO₄ nanoparticles(NPs) are synthesized via the co-precipitation method and embedded into the PVC matrix via the solution casting technique. This study investigates the influence of NiWO₄ nanoparticles with varying concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 wt.%) on the structural and optical features of PVC/NiWO₄ nanocomposite films. Besides, the mass attenuation coefficient μ_m of the films was simulated using the MCNP-6 Code in the energy range of 0.02–15 MeV. Moreover, the μ_m was also computed theoretically using the Phy-X/PSD and XCOM database within the corresponding energy range. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX. Further, the optical properties were evaluated via UV–Vis spectroscopy. The direct band gap value decreased from 5.15 eV for PVC to 4.78 eV for doped PVC with 6 wt.% of NiWO₄. Meanwhile, the indirect band gap declined (4.85–4.36 eV) when the NiWO₄ percentages increased from 0 to 6 wt.%. Conversely, the data showed that the Urbach energy E_u values rose from 190.7 meV for the pure PVC matrix to 442.7 meV for PVC doped with 6 wt.% of NiWO₄. These characteristics render them appropriate for flexible electronic devices. The maximum achievable μ_m was 0.02 MeV, where the rise in NiWO₄ insertion into PVC from 0 to 6 wt.% enhancing the μ_m value from 4.59095 to 6.96409 cm² g⁻¹. The minimum μ_m was achieved at 15 MeV, declining from 0.02285 to 0.02172 cm² g⁻¹. Additionally, the results of μ_m from MCNP6 code show good agreement with the results from XCOM and Phy-X. Using the simulated μ_m values, other radiation shielding parameters, including the half-value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Z_eff), and effective electron density (N_eff), are calculated. The lower HVL obtained for PVC + 6 wt.% NiWO₄ and varied in the range of 0.068 and 20.95 cm. In summary, the PVC/NiWO₄ nanocomposite films possess suitable radiation-shielding properties, making them a candidate radiation-shielding material.