Optical Properties of Flexible Nanocomposites Synthesized as Powders via the Hydrothermal Method Under Ionizing Excitations

In this study, cadmium tungstate (CdWO₄) and silver-doped cadmium tungstate (CdWO₄:Ag)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite films were successfully fabricated. The preparation of the nanocomposite films was accomplished through a straightforward hydrothermal procedure following an established protocol. XRD, EDX, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the successful synthesis of CdWO₄ and CdWO₄:Ag nanopowders. FESEM images revealed mean particle sizes of approximately ۳۴۵ nm for CdWO₄ and ۲۶۷ nm for CdWO₄:Ag nanopowders, respectively. The luminescence characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated under UV irradiation. The CdWO₄:Ag nanoparticles exhibited significantly higher luminescence intensity within the blue-green spectrum compared to the pure CdWO₄ sample. The radiative response of the samples was meticulously assessed using an (²⁴¹Am) alpha source, with the doped sample demonstrating a marked improvement in the count rate compared to the CdWO₄ composite. Furthermore, the CdWO₄:Ag composite exhibited acceptable counting efficiency, performing at levels comparable to more expensive alpha counters. These findings suggest that the CdWO₄:Ag/PVA nanocomposite holds significant potential as an effective scintillation material optimized for radiation detection applications.