Unveiling the influence of crystal structure polymorphs on radiation shielding properties: A case study of SiO₂

Abstract

Material's linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) and atomic packing factor (APF) play a crucial role in shield and protecting against radiations hazardous. This seminal study highlights that changing the crystalline polymorphism structures of a material from orthorhombic at low APF to tetragonal or hexagonal at high APF can lead to rise in both density and LAC. These results demonstrate that altering the material's crystalline structures and the corresponding APF will directly impact these two vital physical parameters. Specifically, for the studied case of SiO2, the findings reveal a 29% increase in the LAC when transitioning from orthorhombic to hexagonal occurs and 118% when undergoes structural changes back to the same symmetry group but with different density and APF. These advancements enhance the material's capacity to be utilized for radiation shielding and prevention applications.