Lead borate glasses doped by lanthanum: Synthesis, physical, optical, and gamma photon shielding properties

In this study, a series of lead borate glasses doped with lanthanum were fabricated via a predictable melting method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) records were used to examine the amorphous state of the glasses. The UV-vis spectra in the wavelength range of 190-1100 nm were used to evaluate the optical characterisations such as the optical energy gap (E-optical(Tauc)), index of refraction (n), Fermi energy (E-Fermi), optical and electrical conductivity, reflection loss (R-L), and optical transmission (T). The results revealed that E-optical(Tauc) decreased, while E-urbach increased with the enhancement of the La2O3 in the samples. Gamma ray shielding characterisations of the prepared glasses were investigated. This was carried out via calculating the linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), the half-value layer (HVL), and mean free path (MFP) using the WinXCom programme. The results confirmed that the investigated glasses can be applied as candidates for optoelectronic and photovoltaic instruments and good attenuators for gamma rays.