Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and nuclear radiation shielding properties of [α-Fe3+O(OH)]-doped lithium borate glasses

Goethite [α-Fe3+O(OH)]-doped lithium borate glasses in the chemical form of [(100 − x) Li2B4O7 mineral x = 10, 20, 30, 40 wt%] were synthesized and investigated in terms of their ability to protect the human being and environment from ionizing radiation. Elemental analysis of four different goethite [α-Fe3+O(OH)]-doped lithium borate glass samples called GOG10, GOG20, GOG30 and GOG40 prepared in different contribution rates was tested using energy-dispersive X-ray technique. In addition, the surface morphology of the manufactured glass samples was determined by scanning electron microscopy. The glass samples subject to the study were evaluated in terms of radiation shielding properties by calculating the shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (μm), half value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number (Zeff), exposure and energy absorption build-up factors, effective removal cross section (ΣR) for fast neutron and RDD (for gamma and neutron) with the help of the XCOM and MCNPX simulation code. Mass stopping power and projected ranges values of the studied glass samples were calculated in order to consider the shielding performance against proton and alpha particles. The results showed that increase in goethite additive increases the gamma protection capacity of glasses. As a result, the glass sample with the highest goethite contribution encoded with GOG40 has better shielding efficiency in terms of the gamma and neutron radiation shielding.