Structural, Optical, Mechanical, and Gamma-Ray Shielding Properties of Er2O3-Doped Germano-Tellurite-Borate Glasses

Abstract

This study focuses on a series of erbium oxide doped germanate tellurite borate (G-T-B) glass system fabricated according to (TeO2)20(GeO2)10(B2O3)35-x(MgO)35(Er2O3)x with x values of 1.25, 2.5, 3.75, and 5 which represents the erbium oxide concentration. The melting temperature utilized at 1100 °C and kept for 20 min for getting fully molten and homogeneous glass structure. Five-hour annealing of the glasses was then carried out at 350 °C. X-ray diffraction was employed to study the transparent bulk pink glasses' glass structure. The Archimedes principle was used for quantifying the density of fabricated samples. Via the UV absorption spectra, the optical characteristics were explored for all Er1, Er2, Er3, and Er4 with a 200–1200 nm wavelength range. The mechanical properties were evaluated with the Makishima and Mackenzie's model. Estimation of the γ-ray protecting parameters was conducted through Monte Carlo simulation over the broad 0.0332–2.506 MeV energy interval. According to the acquired findings, the prepared samples' linear attenuation coefficient enhances by 54.94%, 11.09%, and 6.94% respectively at the 0.059, 0.511, and 2.506 MeV γ-ray energies as the Er2O3 content increases over a concentration of 1.25–5 mol%.