Investigation of the synergistic effects of gamma irradiation and (Sm³⁺, Cu²⁺) co-doping on the spectroscopic and radiation shielding properties of sodium-zinc-borate glasses

Radiation-shielding glasses are essential for protecting individuals from the harmful effects of ionising radiation in various industries and medical contexts. Their use is vital for ensuring workplace safety and significantly reducing the risk of long-term health complications resulting from radiation exposure to the eyes. Motivated by this, the (Sm³⁺, Cu²⁺) co-doped sodium-zinc-borate glasses were prepared using the melt-quench method. These glasses were then exposed to different doses of gamma radiation, and detailed experimental studies were conducted. Physical parameters such as density, along with other characteristics, were calculated. Detailed analysis of the structural, optical, luminescence, and decay properties was also performed. Computational techniques for Mo-42 and Co-60 were utilised to evaluate the radiation shielding performance of the samples. It was observed that samples with a higher concentration of samarium exhibited better shielding behaviour. The band gap values decreased due to the effects of radiation. Additionally, the variation in density with the radiation dose provided a clear indication of non-bridging oxygen formation due to radiation-induced defects. Energy transfer from samarium to copper ions in the glass was observed at 290 and 402 nm excitations. Colour-correlated diagrams, decay analysis, and colour purity analysis were carried out to understand the dependence of samarium and copper ions in the matrix. The computational evaluation demonstrated that higher concentrations of samarium resulted in better shielding behaviour, and at energies lower than 0.1 MeV, the shielding ability was evident.