Boosting the optical, physical, and gamma-ray attenuation capabilities of barium borate glasses through the addition of Y2O3 and PbO2

Abstract

The objective of the current study is to develop a new glass series for hybrid uses in optical and γ-ray protective applications. The mentioned glass series is composed of high-purity oxides according to the chemical formula of (10+x)PbO₂+23BaO+10CaO+(55-x)B₂O₃+2Y₂O₃; x = 0, 3, 6, and 9 mol% under a melting temperature of 1100 °C. The impact of PbO₂ on the optical properties of the prepared glasses was examined using the T-7200 UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The increase in PbO₂ concentration throughout 10–19 mol% decreases the band gap within the glasses over the ranges of 2.945–2.684 eV (for direct transition) and 2.546–1.975 eV (for indirect transition). Additionally, the refractive index of the prepared glasses increased from 2.531 to 2.747 when the PbO₂ concentration raised within the prepared glasses throughout 10–19 mol%. The radiation shielding ability for prepared glasses was evaluated over the energy interval of 0.015–15 MeV using the Monte Carlo simulation. An increase in PbO₂ concentration throughout 10–19 mol% raises the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of prepared glasses over the ranges of 178.961–255.807 cm^–1 (0.015 MeV), 0.304–0.354 cm^–1 (0.8 MeV), and 0.137–0.168 cm^–1 (10 MeV), respectively. The LAC enhancement reduced the thickness equivalent lead, the transmission factor of the prepared glass samples.