https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06810-2
Regular Article
Enhanced optical and radiation protection characteristics of lead-free ZnO-enriched B2O3–TeO2–Na2O–Y2O3 glasses for advanced opto-shielding applications
1
Department of Physics, Shri Shripadbodh Swamiji Government First Grade College, 591 312, Mudalagi, Karnataka, India
2
Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
3
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Isra University, Amman, Jordan
4
Renewable Energy and Environmental Technology Center, University of Tabuk, 47913, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Received:
27
May
2025
Accepted:
28
August
2025
Published online:
13
September
2025
A novel series of ZnO-doped borate-based glasses with compositions (70.5-x)B2O3–20TeO2–9Na2O–0.5Y2O3–xZnO (x = 9, 12, 15, and 18 mol %) were synthesized using a rapid quenching method. Their optical and radiation shielding properties were thoroughly evaluated to assess the impact of ZnO incorporation. UV–Vis. absorption spectroscopy confirmed the amorphous nature of the glasses and showed a progressive blue shift in the absorption edge with increased ZnO, correlating with elevated optical band gap values (3.396 to 3.664 eV for direct and 2.553 to 3.196 eV for indirect transitions) due to enhanced bridging oxygens and fewer NBOs. The decrease in Urbach energy and refractive index indicated improved structural order and compactness. Optical parameters like molar refraction, polarizability, basicity, and electronegativity varied with composition, reflecting ZnO-induced structural changes. Zn18Y exhibited the highest transparency (81.6%) and the lowest reflection loss. Radiation attenuation factors and radiation protection efficiency (RPE) were computed, showing improved shielding with higher ZnO content, especially at low photon energies. Zeff and RPE declined with energy but remained superior for Zn-rich glasses. Zn18Y demonstrated the best radiation shielding due to its high density. Comparisons with other glass systems confirmed the competitive radiation attenuation efficiency of the prepared glasses. The outcomes of the developed glasses show strong promise for transparent radiation protection applications.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
