Gamma attenuation characteristics of Na₂CuMCl₆ (M = Bi and Sb) perovskite semiconductors

This report presents a theoretical investigation of the shielding and radiation dosimetry parameters of two perovskite semiconductors defined by Na₂CuMCl₆ (M = Bi (NCSC1) and Sb (NCSC2)). Photon interaction parameters such as the mass attenuation coefficient \(\left( {{\raise0.7ex\hbox{$\mu $} \!\mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {\mu \rho }}\right.\kern-0pt} \!\lower0.7ex\hbox{$\rho $}}} \right)\) $\left(\mu /\rho \right)$ , effective atomic number \(\left( {Z_{eff} } \right)\) $\left(Z_{\mathit{eff}}\right)$ , effective electron density \(\left( {N_{eff} } \right)\) $\left(N_{\mathit{eff}}\right)$ , mass energy absorption coefficient \(\left( {{\raise0.7ex\hbox{${\mu_{en} }$} \!\mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\mu_{en} } \rho }}\right.\kern-0pt} \!\lower0.7ex\hbox{$\rho $}}} \right)\) $\left({\mu }_{\mathit{en}}/\rho \right)$ , specific gamma constant Г, absorbed gamma dose rate \(\left( {D_{r} } \right)\) $\left(D_r\right)$ , energy absorption (EABF), and exposure (EBF) buildup factors were computed following standard procedure for discrete photon energies (0.2, 0.662, and 1.25 MeV). The magnitudes of \({\raise0.7ex\hbox{$\mu $} \!\mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {\mu \rho }}\right.\kern-0pt} \!\lower0.7ex\hbox{$\rho $}}\) $\mu /\rho$ vary between 0.0534 and 0.1881 cm²/g and 0.0565 and 0.4863 cm²/g for NCSC1 and NCSC2, respectively. The values of \(Z_{eff}\) $Z_{\mathit{eff}}$ fell within the ranges 20.60–25.82 and 25.41–51.37, for NCSC1 and NCSC2, respectively. The corresponding ranges for \(N_{eff}\) $N_{\mathit{eff}}$ were 2.79–3.5 × 10²³ electrons/g and 2.88–5.82 × 10²³ electrons/g. The values of Г for energies between 0.2 and 1.25 MeV are within 10.9–20.42 Rm/Cih and 17.61–23.94 Rm/Cih for NCSC1 and NCSC2, respectively. Comparatively, NCSC2 has lower photon buildup factors across the energies compared to NCSC1.Based on the analysis of all evaluated photon interaction parameters, it can be deduced that NCSC2 had higher photon shielding potentials than NCSC1in both broad and narrow beam photon transmission scenarios. In a comparison of the photon absorption competences of the NCSC perovskite semiconductors with those of the RS series commercial glass shields, the NCSC semiconductors showed promising potential as a Pb-free gamma photon absorber in nuclear technological applications. The NCSC semiconductors are attractive as environmentally friendly shields for low photon energy attenuation. The semiconductors are therefore recommended for shielding of laboratory radiation sources and for the protection of radiation-sensitive electronic components.