Computational Approach to the Study of Photon Radiation Shielding Parameters of Perovskite Ceramics

Abstract

This work investigates the photon radiation shielding efficiency of selected perovskite ceramics, halide-based double perovskites and organic-inorganic halide perovskites, using computational modeling across the photon energy range 0.015–15 MeV. The investigated parameters are Mass Attenuation Coefficient (MAC), Linear Attenuation Coefficient (LAC), Half Value Layer (HVL), Tenth Value Layer (TVL) and Mean Free Path (MFP). The results are based on the total interaction cross section contributions of photon-matter interactions. They reveal that the shielding efficiency of these materials is strongly influenced by their elemental composition, density, and photon energy. Two software tools, Phy-X/PSD and NGCal, were employed in the study to verify the accuracy of the calculations. The results from the two software tools are found to be in good agreement, with a difference in values of less than 0.1%. Halide-based double perovskites exhibited superior attenuation properties at low and intermediate photon energies due to their high-Z elements and relatively high density, while organic-inorganic halide perovskites displayed moderate shielding efficiency, limited mainly by lower density and lighter elemental composition. Yet, they remained attractive due to their tunability and potential for lightweight shielding applications. Overall, halide double perovskites offered the most promising radiation shielding performance among the studied materials. In particular, those containing heavy atoms, such as Pt (Z = 78), stand out as excellent photon-shielding candidates. Therefore, perovskite ceramics have significant potential as next-generation photon shielding materials. Future research should focus on experimental synthesis and long-term stability under radiation exposure to accelerate the practical deployment of perovskite ceramics in radiation applications.