Influence of X-ray irradiation on the magnetic and structural properties of gadolinium silicide nanoparticles

Abstract Magnetic hyperthermia treatment (MHT) utilizes heat generated from magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) under an alternating magnetic field (AMF) for therapeutic applications. Gadolinium silicide (Gd5Si4) has emerged as a promising MHT candidate. However, the impact of high-dose X-ray irradiation on its magnetic behavior remains uncertain. This study examines Gd5Si4 nanoparticles exposed to 36 and 72 kGy X-ray irradiation at a high-dose rate (120 Gy/min). While X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy confirm no structural or compositional changes, transmission electron microscopy reveals localized lattice distortions, along with observable changes in magnetic properties, as evidenced in magnetization vs. temperature and hysteresis measurements. Despite this, magnetocaloric properties and specific loss power (SLP) remain unaffected. Our findings confirm the stability of Gd5Si4 under high-dose X-ray irradiation, supporting its potential for radiotherapy (RT) and magnetocaloric cooling in deep-space applications.