Novel hafnium oxide doped G-T-B Glass: Structural, physical, mechanical, optical, and radiation shielding investigation

Abstract

Three glasses were fabricated using a common melting and annealing process. Hafnium oxide-doped tellurite germanate borate glasses have been investigated for radiation shielding. A series of three glasses with the formula of (35-x) B₂O₃-20TeO₂-10GeO₂-35MgO-xHfO₂ (x = 1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 mol%). X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern investigated the glassy phase of the samples. The Makishima-Mackenzie model was employed to evaluate the mechanical features of synthetic glasses. The dissociation energy (G_t) and packing density (V_t) are determined using the related formulas. The optical features of the manufactured glasses were determined using a number of formulas and the UV absorption edge. The energy band gap (E_g) was found using the Mott and Davis relation. The refractive index and Urbach energy (E_U) were computed using the related relationships. Many optical features, like metallization (M), transmission (T), reflection loss (R), optical basicity (Λ), optical polarizability (α₀), and optical electronegativity (χ), were computed and reported in this work. Monte Carlo simulation was employed to investigate the gamma-ray shielding parameters over an energy interval that extends from 0.015 MeV to 10 MeV. The increase in HfO₂ content within the concentration rage of 1.25–3.75 mol% increases the linear attenuation coefficient of the prepared glasses across the ranges of 107.510–134.277 cm⁻¹ (at 0.015 MeV) 1.282–1.593 cm⁻¹ (at 0.15 MeV), and 0.183–0.191 cm⁻¹ (at 1.5 MeV). The increase in HfO₂ concentrations is also accompanied by a decrease in the half-value thickness, thickness equivalent lead, and the transmission factor for the synthesized glass samples.