Physical and structural effect of modifiers on dysprosium ions incorporated boro-tellurite glasses for radiation shielding purposes

A set of glasses with the composition 29.5B(2)O(3) + 30TeO(2) + 20MF(2) + 20MO + 0.5Dy(2)O(3) (where M = Zn2+, Cd2+, Sr2+, Ba2+ and Pb2+) has been synthesized using a melt quenching technique. The physical and structural properties have been calculated to find out the ability of the glasses to withstand radiation. The optical properties such as optical band gap and Urbach energies of the synthesized glasses have been estimated and were determined to possess minimum defects. MCNP-5 code was applied to evaluate the photon shielding capability of the synthesized glasses. The highest mass attenuation parameter of the sample, 29.5B(2)O(3) + 30TeO(2) + 20PbF(2) + 20PbO + 0.5Dy(2)O(3) (coded as BTD-Pb) varied between 0.202 and 0.040 cm(2)/g. In addition, the mean free path (MFP) for the prepared glasses has been calculated and observed that the BTD-Pb glass had the lowest MFP, varying between 0.891 and 4.466 cm. Based on the radiation shielding parameters, the BTD-Pb glass sample has the best attenuation ability against gamma rays.