Impact of B2O3 on physical, optical characteristics and radiation attenuation factors of borotellurite glasses

Boro-tellurite glasses with a composition [(60-X)TeO2-(20 + X)B2O3-10Li(2)O-10Bi(2)O(3)] where X = 5, 10, 15, 20 mol% have been synthesized. Glass density, molar volume, oxygen packing density, and many other physical parameters were measured. Ultraviolet (UV)-spectra in the wavelength range of 200-800 nm have been measured for the whole glass series. The optical energy band gap E-opt, refractive index, and optical basicity were measured. The mass absorption coefficients (mu(m)) are determined experimentally by the HPGe detector and compared with the theoretical values obtained by the XCOM program and MCNP5 simulation code within 0.121-1.408 MeV photon energy range. Half value layer (HVL), effective atomic number and electron density (Z(eff) and N-eff), and macroscopic removal cross-section (Sigma R) were evaluated. The sample [55TeO(2) - 25B(2)O(3) - 10Bi(2)O(3) - 10Li(2)O] possess the highest values of (mu m = 1.192 +/- 0.033 cm(2)/g, Z(eff) = 56.12 e/atom and Sigma R = 0.101499 cm(-1)) at energy 121 keV also lower values of (HVL = 0.121 cm, TVL = 0.1 cm and MFP = 0.174 cm) at photon energy 121 keV. Therefore [55TeO(2) - 25B(2)O(3) - 10Bi(2)O(3) - 10Li(2)O] glass sample is considered the best gamma-ray shielding material among the prepared glasses. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Boro-tellurite glasses with different compositions were synthesized and their physical and optical properties were measured. Among the prepared glasses, the [55TeO(2) - 25B(2)O(3) - 10Bi(2)O(3) - 10Li(2)O] sample was found to be the best gamma-ray shielding material.