Effects of MoO3 on the structural, physical, mechanical, optical, and ionizing shielding of borate-germanate-telluride glass system

Abstract

In this investigation, a group of different concentrations of molybdenum trioxide-doped borate-germanate-telluride glasses have been synthesized. Four glasses with a composition formula of (35-x) B2O3-20TeO2-10GeO2-35MgO-xMoO3 where x values vary between 5 and 20 mol % have been achieved using the melt-annealing process. X-ray diffraction for the current M1 sample was utilized to prove the glassy nature. FTIR has been measured to understand the glass structure. Many functional group and vibrational bonds were observed. The optical parameters for B2O3-TeO2-GeO2-MgO-MoO3 glass samples were calculated based on absorption spectra recorded in the 200–1100 nm wavelength range. The optical electronegativity (χ) and optical basicity (Λ) were calculated as critical parameters that can be used to evaluate the glass structure. Physical parameters like density, molar volume (Vm), packing density (Vt), oxygen packing density (OPD), and oxygen molar volume (OMV) were measured and calculated. Hardness (H), Poisson ratio (σ), Fractal bond conductivity (d), and elastic moduli of M1, M2, M3, and M4 glass samples were calculated. Mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) for four synthesized glass samples were reported along with linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) as a function of photon energy. Based on the transmission factor TF %, it shows extremely low percentages at the lowest energy region, dropping to less than 1 % at 0.015 MeV up to 0.08 MeV in all samples. The radiation protection efficiency (RPE) was examined to measure the samples' capacity to attenuate ionizing radiation.