Optical Properties and Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Bismuth Silicate Glasses Containing SrO, BaO or PbO

Abstract

Optical and FT Infrared spectroscopic measurements have been utilized to investigate and characterize binary bismuth silicate glass together with derived samples by replacements of parts of the Bi2O3 by SrO, BaO, or PbO. This study aims to justify and compare the spectral and shielding behavior of the studied glasses containing heavy metal ions towards gamma irradiation. The study also aims to measure or calculate the optical energy band gap of these glasses. The replacements of parts of Bi2O3 by SrO, BaO or PbO caused some changes within the optical and infrared absorption spectra due to the different housing positions and physical properties of the respective divalent Sr2+, Ba2+, Pb2+ ions. The stability of both the optical and infrared spectra of the studied bismuth silicate glass and related samples towards gamma irradiation confirm some shielding behavior of the studied glasses and their suitability as radiation shielding candidates.