Highly transparent Gd ₃ TaO ₇ ceramics: Novel neutron and gamma dual‐shielding window

Abstract Advanced nuclear plants demand shielding windows for in situ monitoring and robust shielding against gamma (γ) and neutron (n) radiation. However, existing windows lack simultaneous γ/n attenuation and sufficient fracture toughness, hindering practical deployment. To address this, a novel Gd 3 TaO 7 transparent ceramics (GTO‐TCs) for an efficient n and γ dual‐shielding window is proposed and demonstrated. The developed GTO ceramic window exhibits high optical transmittance (78% at 2000 nm) and excellent mechanical properties (Hv and K IC are 9.61 GPa and 2.60 MPa·m 1/2 , respectively). Significantly, the GTO ceramic presents a γ‐ray linear absorption coefficient of 0.34 for over 90% γ attenuation from 60 Co at 5.8 cm thickness, coupled with Monte Carlo verified full thermal n attenuation (<0.4 eV) at merely 2 mm. The developed GTO window possesses excellent n and γ dual‐shielding properties, robust fracture toughness, and has promising prospects for service in extreme nuclear environments.