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The radiological protection has the purpose of safeguarding the physical well-being of the user, preventing exposure to detrimental levels of ionizing radiation. This study introduces a novel, cost-effective category of lead-free elastomeric material designed for radiation shielding. The filler compounds utilized are notably lighter than conventional lead-based materials, enhancing user ergonomics during application. They comprise of a blend of barium sulfate combined or not with magnesium oxide with addition-cure liquid silicone rubber. To ensure the effectiveness of the radiation shielding, X-ray transmission measurements were performed for the different thicknesses of the materials and the results compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, the physical properties of the new materials, such as density, homogeneity, tensile strength, viscosity, and wettability, were also evaluated. The findings indicate that both materials fulfill the requirement for application in radiation protection garments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A composite based on natural polymer xanthan gum (XG) and expanded graphite nanosheets (GNs) was prepared for application as a flexible and eco‐friendly solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). To evaluate the ionic conductivity, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed at different temperatures, ranging from 25 to 80°C, reaching high values of 1.1 × 10−3 and 2.43 × 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature and 40°C, respectively, for the sample containing 0.5% by weight of GNs. Additional characterizations including X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and cyclic voltammetry were implemented to get full structural, morphological and optical relevant features of these samples. The results showed that flexible SPEs based on XG/GNs are very promising and can be used as electrolytes with high potential of application in a wide variety of electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an easy and low-cost production method for a cellulose acetate-based gel polymer containing lithium perchlorate and propylene carbonate is described, as well as the investigation of its properties for potential use as an electrolyte in electrochemical devices. Cellulose acetate, a biopolymer derived from natural matrix, is colourless and transparent, as confirmed by the UV-Vis spectroscopy, with 85 % transparency in visible spectrum. The gels were prepared and tested at different concentrations and proportions to optimise their properties. Thermogravimetry, XRD, and FTIR analyses revealed crucial characteristics, including a substantial 90 % mass loss between 150 and 250 °C, a semi-crystalline nature with complete salt dissociation within the polymer matrix, and a decrease in intensity at 1780 cm -1 with increasing Li + ion concentration, suggesting an improvement in ionic conduction capacity. In terms of electrochemical performance, the gel containing 10 % by mass of cellulose acetate and 1.4 M of LiClO 4 emerged as the most promising. It exhibited a conductivity of 2.3 × 10 -4 S.cm -1 at 25 °C and 3.0 × 10 -4  S.cm -1 at 80 °C. Additionally, it demonstrated an ideal shape of cyclic voltammetry curves and stability after 400 cycles, establishing its suitability as an electrolyte in electrochemical devices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)