Synthesis, physical, optical, and transmission properties of terbium oxide-reinforced quinary borate glasses for radiation protection

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of borate glasses doped with varying concentrations of Terbium oxide (Tb4O7). Using the conventional melt-quench method, we investigated the effects of Tb4O7 on the physical, optical, gamma-ray shielding, and mechanical properties of the glass samples. Our findings indicate a significant increase in density with higher Tb4O7 content, attributed to the high molecular weight and density of Tb4O7. Optical properties assessed through UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed increased absorption intensity, a red shift in the absorption edge, and a decrease in the optical band gap, demonstrating enhanced optical absorption and refractive indices. Gamma-ray shielding effectiveness, evaluated using mass attenuation coefficients, half-value layers, and mean free paths, showed superior performance with higher Tb4O7 concentrations. The effective atomic number also increased, enhancing gamma-ray attenuation capabilities. Additionally, the elastic modulus of the glasses improved with higher Tb4O7 content, providing better mechanical stability. Our findings indicate that the density increased from 3.52 g/cm³ for undoped samples to 3.92 g/cm³ for the glass containing 2 mol% Tb4O7. Optical absorption measurements revealed a red shift in the absorption edge from 345.46 nm to 369.54 nm, with a corresponding decrease in the optical band gap from 3.48 eV to 3.18 eV. Gamma-ray shielding performance improved significantly, with the mass attenuation coefficient (GMAC) rising from 0.115 cm2/g to 0.162 cm2/g, while the half-value layer (GHVL) decreased from 3.22 cm to 2.86 cm. Additionally, the elastic modulus increased by 11.58 % as Tb4O7 content increased. These results suggest that Tb4O7-doped borate glasses significantly improve density, optical absorption, gamma-ray shielding, and mechanical strength. Finally, Increasing Tb4O7 content in borate glasses substantially enhances their multifunctional properties, making them suitable for advanced radiation shielding applications. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.