The role of Bi₂O₃ on improving the physical, optical and radiation shielding properties of TeO₂–BaO–ZnO glasses

The effect of higher molecular weight bismuth oxide incorporation in influencing the properties of ternary zinc barium tellurite glasses with maximum limit of 10 mol.% is explored and reported. A systematic increase in the density values and glass transition temperature were observed with gradual incorporation of Bi₂O₃, which influences and increases cross-linking in the glass network. Raman spectral studies confirmed the structural modification from 6 mol.% of bismuth with 740 cm⁻¹ peak dominating compared to that of 660 cm⁻¹. Formation of non-bridging oxygen replacing bridging oxygen atoms could be validated from Raman and energy bandgap measurements. The presence of all the elements and their corresponding oxidation states were confirmed from XPS measurements. Standard Phy-X/PSD software was used to validate the influence of bismuth oxide in improving the radiation shielding properties of zinc barium tellurite glasses. Calculated results showed a continuous increase in attenuation coefficients with bismuth doping, wherein 10 mol.% sample had the highest value. Lower half value layer and mean free path values of 3.17 and 3.88 cm respectively at a particular photon energy value for 10 mol% bismuth oxide indicated theoretically the significance of doping bismuth oxide in improving the shielding properties of zinc barium tellurite glasses. The obtained values can be used as a basis to experimentally validate the utility of these glasses in shielding applications.