Fabrication, structural, optical, physical and radiation shielding characterization of indium (III) oxide reinforced 85TeO2-(15-x)ZnO-xIn2O3 glass system

This work aimed to evaluate the structural, optical, and physical features of several types of glasses based on 85TeO2-(15-x)ZnO-xIn2O3 (x = 2, 4, 6, and 8 mol%) system. As a result, five different samples were synthesized utilizing the melting-annealing technique. The Archimedes method was used to calculate the densities of the synthesized glasses. The structural, optical, physical, and radiation interaction characteristics of the sample were determined using XRD investigations, Raman spectra, and advanced modelling methods, producing optical band gap, refractive index, and Urbach energy values. The glass densities increased from 5.6091 g cm-3 to 5.6754 g cm- 3 by increasing In2O3 reinforcement from 2 to 8 mol %. Urbach energies increased consistently from 0.1399 to 0.1439 eV as In2O3 concentration increased, apart from a drop to 0.1345 eV at x = 8. The optical transmittance and absorption characteristics altered nearly monotonically with increasing In2O3 ratios, showing that these characteristics may be estimated and controlled using In2O3 additive. By substituting ZnO with In2O3 within the structure, the optical band gap was dramatically enlarged. Additionally, at simulated energies greater than 0.02 MeV, the gamma-ray mass attenuation coefficient grows monotonically with In2O3 reinforcement. As a result, it can be stated that the high concentration In2O3 to TeO2-ZnO glass combination is a good synergetic tool for integrating structural, optical, and radiation properties.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the structural, optical, and physical characteristics of glasses with different levels of In2O3 content, finding that increasing In2O3 content led to higher glass density, increased Urbach energies, and alterations in optical and absorption characteristics. Additionally, substituting ZnO with In2O3 significantly enlarged the optical band gap, and the gamma-ray mass attenuation coefficient showed consistent growth with higher In2O3 content. High concentrations of In2O3 in TeO2-ZnO glass were found to be beneficial for integrating structural, optical, and radiation properties.