Synthesis, physical, optical properties and gamma-ray shielding parameters of some tellurite glasses

Abstract In this study, tellurite glasses with the chemical form (70-X) TeO2 - 20B2O3 -10 Li2O - XBi2O3: x= 7, 10, 15 and 20 mol% have been synthesized via melt quenching process. The physical, optical properties and gamma-ray shielding competences of the produced glasses have been investigated. The optical energy band gap (Eopt) was measured by UV-vis spectra in the range of 200-800 nm. The EOpt decreased from 2.872 eV for S1 glass (x = 7 mol%) to 2.616 eV for S4 glass sample (x = 20 mol%) for direct transition, the linear refractive index increase from (2.432 to 2.508) for direct transition, the Urbach’s energy varied from (0.25 to 0.284) eV and the enhanced in optical basicity (∧) fundamentality is attributed to the strongly polarizable of bismuth ions relative to TeO2, owing to its large ionic radius and small radius of cation. The mass attenuation coefficients (μm) are calculated by WinXCOM and XMUDAT programs within (15–20000) keV photon energy range, showed a good agreement between these two methods. The mass attenuation coefficient (μm) values varied from (50.245, 55.260, 62.445 and 68.471) cm2/g for S1, S2, S3, and S4 samples respectively at 15 keV. These results related to that Bi have high atomic number (Z=83), which can absorb the incoming gamma ray and other parameters related to estimated μm are available. Finally sample S4 (20 mol% Bi and 50 mol% Te) is a highly absorbed glass sample for shielding against gamma radiation.