Synthesis and characterization of B2O3-Bi2O3-SrO-Al2O3-PbO-Dy2O3 glass system: The role of Bi2O3/ Dy2O3 on the optical, structural, and radiation absorption parameters

Abstract

In the present study, a number of glass samples with the chemical signature: 70B(2)O(3)+(10-x)Bi2O3+5SrO+10Al(2)O(3)+5PbO+xDy(2)O(3) were prepared and investigated for their structural, physical, optical, and radiation (gamma rays and fast neutron absorption) properties. The optical absorption data was used to measure the optical bandgap and Judd-Ofelt parameters. Based on photoluminescence decay spectral features stimulated emission cross-section and quantum efficiency were measured. The mass attenuation coefficient and the effective atomic number of the glass samples were observed to increase with the addition of Dy2O3. The addition of Dy2O3 also played a positive role in the charged particles absorption capacity of the glasses. In addition, the fast neutron removal cross-section of the glass samples increased from 0.0669 to 0.0713 cm(-1) as molar concentration of Dy2O3 was increased from 0.1 to2.5 mol%. The synthesized glasses showed key characteristics that made them attractive for optical as well as radiation protection applications.