Significantly enhanced gamma radiation absorption performance and optical features of B2O3-Na2O-BaO glass composites via ErO addition strategies

Abstract

In this study, extensive physical constants, optical parameters, gamma and fast neutron cross-section-related quantities of sodium borate glasses containing Er³⁺ ions (with the chemical identity, 75B₂O₃ – 5Na₂O – (20-x)BaO – (x) Er₂O₃, where x = 0; 1; 2; 3; 5, and 10 mol.%), are presented. The sodium borate glass containing Er³⁺ ions was fabricated based on the well-known melt-quench technique. The density of the glasses shows an increasing trend with erbium ion concentration, reaching a maximum value of 3.165 g/cm³ at x = 5 mol%. The effective concentration of erbium ions increased from ∼ 2 × 10²⁰ to 21 × 10²⁰ ions/cm³ for the investigated glasses. The glasses exhibited high optical transparency in the 200–1100 nm wavelength range. The gamma ray mass attenuation coefficients of the glasses were in the range 0.0265–21.3424 cm²/g, 0.0270–23.9997 cm²/g, 0.0275–26.5225 cm²/g, 0.0279–28.9208 cm²/g, 0.0287–33.3789 cm²/g, and 0.0304–42.8821 cm²/g, for x = 0; 1; 2; 3; 5, and 10 mol.%, respectively. The Er³⁺ ion-rich glasses had higher gamma interaction coefficients. The optimum concentration of Er₂O₃ that resulted in the best fast neutron interaction was 5 mol%. The glasses were shown to be more efficient in shielding radiation in contrast to some conventional shielding materials. Based on the optical and radiation interaction properties, the glasses are recommended for optoelectronic and radiation protection functions.