RETRACTED ARTICLE: Structural topology, optical properties, and radiation shielding of NiCl₂-doped lead arseborate glass

This study focuses on the influence of low-concentration additions of NiCl₂ on the overall properties of lead arseborate oxide glasses. In this regard, small amounts, in grams, of NiCl₂ were added, separately, to the main constituents of the lead-arseboarte glass, according to the chemical formula [23 wt% B₂O₃–11 wt.% Na₂O–20 wt. CaO–23 wt.% PbO–23 wt.% As₂O₃] % + x NiCl₂, where x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 g, to prepare a glass series of four samples using the fast quenching technique. The structural and optical characterizations of the prepared samples have been described based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, Fourier transform infrared charts (FTIR), and UV–Vis spectra. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns did not contain any crystalline peaks but only two broad humps which revealed that all samples possess short-range order structures. At the same time, the FTIR charts showed different structural units. The UV–Vis spectra demonstrated that the absorption edge spectra changed to a higher wavelength with an increase in NiCl₂ dopants, accompanied by a drop in optical transmittance, particularly in the visible range. As the NiCl₂ dopants increased, the values of the optical energy gaps reduced while the mass attenuation remained constant, and the effective atomic number, bulk density, microhardness, absorption index, and characteristic relaxation time increased. Regardless of sample thickness, a novel methodology has been proposed to determine both the optical band gaps and the optical loss. The novel method and the widely used one (Tauc relation) demonstrated excellent agreement. The results suggest the NiCl₂-rich sample is a primary material for radiation shielding applications as a carrier for radioactive sources and preserving them, or for preserving radioactive waste and high-reflection and UV-blocking glass coating.