Borosilicate glasses doped with Er2O3: preparation, physical, optical, dielectric properties and radiation shielding capacity

This study aimed to investigate the physical, optical, dielectric properties as well as gamma-ray shielding capacity of borosilicate glass samples with chemical formula 70B(2)O(3)-5SiO(2)-10Li(2)O-5Bi(2)O(3)-10ZnO-XEr2O3 with X = 0.0 (Er-0.0) to 1.2 (Er-1.2) mol% which prepared by the melt quenching technique method. Densities (D-s) of Er-X samples increased from 2.95 to 3.12 g/cm(3), whereas the molar volume (V-m) declined from 30.68 to 30.50 cm(3)/mol as Er2O3 content increased from 0.0 to 1.2 mol%. The oxygen packing density (OPD) enhanced from 89.64 to 90.33 mol/l, whereas oxygen molar volume (OMV) decreased from 11.16 to 10.95 cm(3)/mol. The optical band gap decreased from 3.36 to 2.90 eV for direct transition, while decreased from 2.96 to 2.50 eV for indirect transition. Urbach energy (Delta E-u) was enhanced from 0.17 to 0.56 eV. The refractive index (n) was increased from 2.40 to 2.54. The dielectric constant regularly rises with increasing Er2O3 content in the glass networks. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) followed the trend as (Er-1.2)(MAC) > (Er-0.9)(MAC) > (Er-0.6)(MAC) > (Er-0.3)(MAC) > (Er-0.0)(MAC). The Er-1.2 sample possessed the lowest values of half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP). Results showed that suggested Er-X glasses, can be used in optical and radiation shielding applications.