Synthesis and Optimization of Bi2O3-B2O3-Cr2O3 Glass System for Structural, Optical, and Radiation Shielding Properties

Abstract

Glasses containing B2O3, Bi2O3, MoO3, Cr2O3, and ZnF2 are known to possess striking features for advanced optical and radiation shielding applications. This report presents the preparation and structural, physical, optical, and radiation shielding characteristics of xMoO(3)-(20-x)ZnF2-20Bi(2)O(3)-59.8B(2)O(3)-0.2Cr(2)O(3) glasses for x = 0 (MZBBCR-0), 4 (MZBBCR-1), 8 (MZBBCR-2), 12 (MZBBCR-3) and 16 (MZBBCR-4) mol%. The glasses were produced through the melt-and-quench method. The glassy features of the prepared materials were observed using x-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrographs. The physical, optical, and structural parameters of the glasses were obtained by standard laboratory procedures. The FLUKA (fluktuierende kaskade) code and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) XCOM software were used to compute the gamma-photon mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) of the glasses. Also, the fast and thermal neutron interaction cross-sections were computed with the aid of established theoretical models. The density of the MZBBCR glasses decreased nonlinearly with MoO3 concentration. The results of the Racah parameter study revealed that the strength of the crystal field was diminished when molybdenum was added to the glass system. The direct energy bandgap values of the samples also decreased with the decrease in ZnF2 amount from 16 mol% to 4 mol%. The values MAC of the glasses at 15 keV are 69.703 cm(2)/g, 68.330 cm(2)/g, 66.985 cm(2)/g, 65.667 cm(2)/g, and 64.376 cm(2)/g for MZBBCR0, MZBBCR1, MZBBCR2, MZBBCR3, and MZBBCR4, respectively. The fast neutron removal cross-sections of MZBBCR0, MZBBCR1, MZBBCR2, MZBBCR3, and MZBBCR4 are 0.1035 cm(-1), 0.1030 cm(-1), 0.1015 cm(-1), 0.1002 cm(-1), and 0.0995 cm(-1), respectively. The MZBBCR0 glass had the best photon and neutron attenuation, and exhibited features that make it a better choice for photon shielding applications than conventional shielding glasses or concretes. The zero-lead content of the MZBBCR glasses, as well as their optical properties, makes them safer and more available for other optical-based applications.