UNIST Develops Radiation-Blocking Composite... Coating Like Painting

A method has been developed to more efficiently block neutrons, which are dangerous rays included in radiation.

The research team led by Professor Kwon Soon-yong from the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Components and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UNIST developed a shielding film that can block neutrons contained in radiation. The developed shielding film can be used over large areas and is lightweight and flexible.

Professor Kwon Soon-yong explained, “The developed MXene-boron carbide composite shielding film is over 1,000 times thinner than existing commercial materials at just tens of micrometers thick, and it can be easily applied to various surfaces like painting.”

Neutrons included in radiation are essential in nuclear power generation, medical devices, and the aerospace industry. However, if leaked, they are very dangerous particles that cause unpredictable phenomena in electronic devices or living organisms due to interactions with other atoms.

The research team directly synthesized MAX phase, the parent material of the two-dimensional nanomaterial MXene, and MXene itself. They devised a technique to finely pulverize boron carbide, which can absorb neutrons, and insert it between MXene layers.

Based on this, they developed a flexible and lightweight film over a large area. They also developed a painting technique that allows the developed mixture to be applied to various surfaces.

Co-first author Han Ju-hyung, a researcher in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said, “By adjusting the properties of MXene and boron carbide, we improved the stability of the mixed solution of the two materials. Using the stabilized MXene-boron carbide mixed solution, we created a large-area, lightweight, and flexible shielding film and experimentally demonstrated that it can be applied like paint on various object surfaces.”

The developed neutron shielding film has a dense structure with internal bubble pores only a few tens of nanometers in size, showing superior mechanical properties compared to previously used polymer-based composites.

Since no additional processes such as heat treatment are required, it is possible to manufacture a pure mixed structure without impurities.

(From left) Professor Kwon Sun-yong of UNIST, first author researcher Han Ju-hyung, first author researcher Seok Si-hyun.

Co-first author Seok Si-hyun, a researcher in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said, “The nylon composite coated with the film maintained up to 98% of its original shape even after more than 20,000 bending tests, demonstrating its stability. Despite using only milligram quantities of boron carbide, it showed a high neutron shielding rate, proving its excellence.”

Professor Kwon Soon-yong said, “The newly developed composite fabrication technology is practical and does not require complex equipment or processes, but it can easily realize neutron shielding coating films with desired thickness and area. This research will help expand the potential of MXene material coating technology and demonstrate its applications in various fields.”

This research achievement was published online on October 31 in the international journal Nature Communications. The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Basic Research Program for Nuclear Energy.

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