Preparation of soft-hard X-ray absorption nanocomposites using PbS, PbSe coated on SWCNTs based polyaniline

The dangers of heavy wave radiation such as X-rays are well known, and current coatings are inefficient, heavy, and expensive. The above project has attempted to provide lightweight, highly efficient, and cheaper absorbers. PbS and PbSe nanoparticles (NPs) were coated successfully on functionalized single wall carbon nanotubes (F-SWCNTs) by chemically and thermochemically reactions. Then, their nanocomposites with polyaniline (PANI) such as [(F-SWCNTs-PbS)0.5-PAA]-PANI0.5, [(F-SWCNTs-PbSe)0.5-PAA]-PANI0.5 and [(F-SWCNTs-PbS)0.3-PAA-(F-SWCNTs-PbSe)0.3-PAA]-PANI0.4 in different thickness (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mm) were synthesized by in-situ polymerization method in the presence of dodecyl benzene and as dopant and ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidant. The nanocomposites were characterized by the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD). Morphology, microstructure of samples and electrical conductivities were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and four probe method, respectively. Finally, X-ray photon energies between 13 and 60 keV and photon interaction parameters such as attenuation coefficient, half value thickness (HVT) and X-ray attenuation percentage were investigated. The results show that not only is PANI a good adsorbent by itself, but also that the absorption increases significantly with the presence of lead derivatives and their concentration and thickness. Therefore, these composites will have diverse applications in nuclear and hospital centers. Key words: PbS and PbSe nanoparticles, single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT), polyaniline, nanocomposite, X-ray attenuation.