On Y2O3·Li2O·Al2O3·B2O3 glasses: synthesis, structure, physical, optical characteristics and gamma-ray shielding behavior

The doping effect of Y2O3 oxide on the structure, physical properties, and gamma-ray competence of new prepared glass systems of the form xY2O3·(20−x)Li2O·20Al2O3·60B2O3 glasses: x = 0–3.2 mol% encoded as (0Y2O3–3.2Y2O3) was investigated. The synthesized glasses were transparent and in an amorphous state. Clusters around microns were formed in the synthesized glasses were formed. Fourier transformation infrared measurements revealed that the replacement of Li2O by Y2O3 can result in the transforming of NBOs found in the BO3 groups into BOs, in the region of 1120–1500 cm−1 and, therefore, the $${\text{BO}}_{{{\overline{\text{4}}}}}$$ units. The addition of Y2O3 leads to an increase in the density of glasses from 2.154 to 2.378 g/cm3, while the molar volume was decreased from 31.627 to 31.295 cm3/mol. Indeed, there was an insignificant increase in the bandgap values from 3.33 eV of 0Y2O3 glass sample to 3.54 eV of 3.2Y2O3 glasses. The mass attenuation coefficient results were arranged in the order that (3.2Y2O3)MAC > (1.6Y2O3)MAC > (0.8Y2O3)MAC > (0.4Y2O3)MAC > (0.2Y2O3)MAC > (0Y2O3)MAC. At the lowest photon energy 0.015 MeV, half-value layer was 0.130, 0.123, 0.118, 0.108, 0.092, and 0.072 cm, while at 15 MeV, the values were found equal to 17.651, 17.404, 17.196, 16.762, 15.879, and 14.739 for 0Y2O3, 0.2Y2O3, 0.4Y2O3, 0.8Y2O3, 1.6Y2O3, and 3.2Y2O3, respectively. The maximum Zeff values were obtained in the low zone and ranged from 9.61 to 14.22 at 0.015 MeV, while the lowest values were obtained at 15 MeV and ranged from 7.50 to 8.57 for 0Y2O3 and 3.2Y2O3, respectively. In general, results claimed that the prepared 0Y2O3–3.2Y2O3 glasses can be applied in optical, biological, and medical applications.