Fabrication of colorless phosphate glass doped with Bi2O3 for lead-free radiation shielding in X-Rayand gamma-rays medical applications: A study using PHITS Monte Carlo simulation and experimental analysis

In this study, glasses with the composition (65–x)P₂O₅–5CaF₂–10NaF–10KF–10AlF₃–xBi₂O₃ (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 mol%) were synthesized using a conventional melt-quenching technique followed by melting at 1200 °C for 3 hrsand annealing 500 °C for 3 hrs, aimed at photon shielding applications. The resulting glasses remained transparent and colorless glasses, with increasing of Bi₂O₃ concentrations. Radiation shielding parameters (linear attenuation coefficient (μ), mass attenuation coefficients (μ_m), effective atomic number (Z_eff), effective electron density (N_eff), and half-value layer (HVL)) with increasing of Bi₂O₃ concentrations in glasses were studied using gamma and X-ray sources. Using gamma sources, the μ_m, Z_eff, and N_eff increased, while HVL decreased. X-ray shielding performance showed that as the μ_m increased, the HVL decreased. As the Bi₂O₃ concentrations increase, the concentration at 15 mol% of Bi₂O₃ has shown the best radiation shielding performance when compared to standard materials at 120 kVp. Consequently, the concentration at 15 mol% of Bi₂O₃ in glass systems are promising candidates for radiation shielding materials innovation in future.