Cerium doped barium tantalates: Fabrication, characterization, and investigation of gamma radiation attenuation

Cerium-doped Ba5Ta4O15 crystals used to enhance the γ-ray attenuation performance were fabricated via a hydrothermal process. The contents of doped cerium were adjusted from 4 mol% to 16 mol%. The obtained products were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and XPS. It proved that cerium ions were successfully introduced to the crystal lattice of Ba5Ta4O15, and partially replaced the barium ions sites. The Ba5Ta4O15/EPDM composites prepared by mixing the obtained inorganic powders and the polymer matrix were tested in the γ-ray attenuation. The results showed that 16 mol% cerium doping gave the Ba5Ta4O15/EPDM composite a lead of 38.66% in the γ-ray (Am-241 source, 59.5 keV) shielding capacity compared to its un-doped competitor. The enhancement of γ-ray attenuation performance of cerium doped Ba5Ta4O15 was ascribed to expand the K-edge absorbing area of tantalum.