Structural, elastic, optical and γ-ray shielding behavior of Dy3+ ions doped heavy metal incorporated borate glasses

The effect of modifier ions in different basis have been analyzed through a new series of heavy metals incorporated borate based glasses 39H(3)BO(3) + 30PbO + 20MO + 10Bi(2)O(3) + 1Dy(2)O(3) (where M= Ca,Sr,Ba,Na and K) which are synthesized following melt quenching technique for radiation screening applications. The potentiality of glasses to withstand the penetration of fast moving neutrons is checked by various studies. Functional groups are identified through different stretching and bending modes of vibrations within the glass membrane through FTIR spectral analysis. In addition to that, other structural properties like Boron-Boron distance (d(B-B)), molar volume of oxygen (V-o), Oxygen Packing Density (OPD), optical basicity (Lambda th) and Bond density (n(b)) are calculated theoretically. The bonding nature (beta) and nephelauxetic ratio (delta) values reveals that the glasses possess more of ionic linkages. The high density value exhibited by the Bismuth lead borate glasses indicates their capability to act as a good shielding material in reactors emitting hazardous radiation. Different moduli of elasticity (E, K, G, sigma) values for the present glasses are calculated and the results reveal the enhancement in shielding performances when compared to other existing glasses and a comparative study is made on it. Optical studies are carried out and the absorption of Dy3+ ions to different energy levels is observed and optical band gap (E-opt) values of the synthesized glasses are calculated along with the Urbach energy (Delta E) values. Radiation shielding properties of the produced glasses were investigated in terms of the mass attenuation coefficients (mu(m)), transmission fraction (T), half value layer (HVL) and effective atomic number (Z(eff)) parameters. The results attained in the shielding study indicated that glass specimen with M = Ba exhibits enhanced shielding behavior as Ba owns high atomic number (Z) compared to other elements. Glass specimen with M = Na shows the poorest shielding characteristics due to the low Z of Na.