Effects of 7.5 MeV electron beam irradiation on optical properties of Eu ³⁺ -doped zinc sodium bismuth borate glasses

The present study aims to examine the effects of beaming 7.5 MeV electron on europium-doped zinc sodium bismuth borate glasses (prepared through melt quench technique) and the resulting changes in structural and optical properties. The study also examines the structural depolymerization of irradiated glasses, analyzed using recorded Fourier transform infrared spectra. Absorbance spectra along with Tauc's plot were used to find the optical band gap of pristine and irradiated glasses. The study observes changes in photoluminescence spectra of irradiated Eu ³⁺ -doped glasses, monitored by exciting the samples at 394 nm. The study notes a decrease in emission intensity of Eu ³⁺ ions observed from the emission spectra of electron beam treated glass samples. The thermally stimulated luminescence (TL) measurements of irradiated glasses resulted in intense glow peaks with increasing electron beam doses [4–50 kGy]. The TL glow curve exhibited two dissimilar peaks at distinct temperatures of 490 K and 610 K respectively. The obtained trap-depth (0.93 eV) using Chen's relation and intensity variation of first glow peak at 490 K as a function electron beam doses facilitates ZNBBE-4 glass for dosimetry applications.