Borosilicate glasses doped with Er₂O₃: preparation, physical, optical, dielectric properties and radiation shielding capacity

This study aimed to investigate the physical, optical, dielectric properties as well as gamma-ray shielding capacity of borosilicate glass samples with chemical formula 70B₂O₃–5SiO₂–10Li₂O–5Bi₂O₃–10ZnO–XEr₂O₃ with X = 0.0 (Er-0.0) to 1.2 (Er-1.2) mol% which prepared by the melt quenching technique method. Densities (D_s) of Er-X samples increased from 2.95 to 3.12 g/cm³, whereas the molar volume (V_m) declined from 30.68 to 30.50 cm³/mol as Er₂O₃ content increased from 0.0 to 1.2 mol%. The oxygen packing density (OPD) enhanced from 89.64 to 90.33 mol/l, whereas oxygen molar volume (OMV) decreased from 11.16 to 10.95 cm³/mol. The optical band gap decreased from 3.36 to 2.90 eV for direct transition, while decreased from 2.96 to 2.50 eV for indirect transition. Urbach energy (ΔE_u) was enhanced from 0.17 to 0.56 eV. The refractive index (n) was increased from 2.40 to 2.54. The dielectric constant regularly rises with increasing Er₂O₃ content in the glass networks. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) followed the trend as (Er-1.2)_MAC > (Er-0.9)_MAC > (Er-0.6)_MAC > (Er-0.3)_MAC > (Er-0.0)_MAC. The Er-1.2 sample possessed the lowest values of half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP). Results showed that suggested Er-X glasses, can be used in optical and radiation shielding applications.