Investigations on structural and radiation shielding properties of Er ³⁺ doped zinc bismuth borate glasses

Novel optical glasses 10ZnO-5Na ₂ CO ₃ -10Bi ₂ O ₃ -(75-x)B ₂ O ₃ -xEr ₂ O ₃ with x = (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0) mol%, were synthesized by melt quench technique and characterized through XRD, EDAX, optical and luminescent properties, before and after irradiating them with high energy (1.3 MeV) gamma rays. Moreover, the gamma photons attenuation characterizations for the samples under study were studied. The mass attenuation coefficients for the selected glasses were affected with the addition of Er ₂ O ₃ . Based on the findings from the mass attenuation coefficients, ZNBBEr-5 has better photon attenuation features in comparison with the other samples. Also, arising the Er ₂ O ₃ content in the glasses, led to increase the effective atomic number. The mean free path for the prepared samples were compared with some shieling glasses. Shielding performance of the present glass samples against gamma radiation reveals pair production is prominent at 1.3 MeV. UV-VIS–NIR absorption edge was red shifted after gamma irradiation indicating the formation of electron/absorption centers in the glass matrix. Thermally stimulated Luminescence (TL) spectroscopy technique showed five electron trap centers at 445K, 491K, 545K, 590K, 620K with acceptable FOM [< 5%] values. The number of overlapping peaks and their trapping parameters like kinetic order, activation energy, peak temperature, frequency factor and half life were determined using the Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution (CGCD). Linear behaviour obtained through the dose response of the glass (5 kGy–50 kGy) proved their suitability for dosimetric application in the food irradiation zones and in red LEDs (<50 kGy).