Gamma Rays Interactions with Transition Metal Doped-Soda lime Phosphate Glasses Evaluated by Collective Optical, FTIR Spectral Measurements

MnO2, NiO, CoO and CuO doped in soda lime phosphate host glass were prepared. Combined optical and FTIR spectra were measured for the studied glasses before and after gamma irradiation. Some optical and physical properties such as density, molar volume, optical band gap energy and the width of the band tails (Urbach energy) were measured or calculated for the glass samples before and after irradiation. Optical absorption spectra of the selected TM ions reveal specific absorption bands which are characteristics for each ion in accordance with its configuration, valence or coordination state exhibited by the TM ion in the host phosphate glass. Gamma irradiation causes obvious changes which vary with the type of transition metal ion and in some cases obvious shielding effects are identified towards gamma irradiation. FTIR spectra show vibrational bands which are correlated with specific phosphate groups (mainly Q2 and Q3 units) which are related to the percent of constituting glass-forming component oxide. The measured optical properties confirmed the results of the optical absorption spectroscopy which indicate that copper-doped samples have some shielding behavior towards the irradiation process.