Investigation of rare earth doped lead alumino borophosphate glasses for gamma ray Shielding and sensing applications

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineGlasses, discovered in Mesopotamia as early as 3500 BCE, are abundantly being used as a building and optical material for centuries. Unlike crystalline substances, glasses lack long range periodicity and do not exhibit a clear melting temperature. Most widely studied and used inorganic glasses are oxide glasses which are further classified as germinate, tellurite, silicate, borate, phosphate and borophosphate glasses. In general, glasses possess a number of remarkable properties such as high transparency, easy mass production, easier formability into desired shapes, compositional variety, liquid and gas impermeability, high chemical resistance, mechanical strength and biocompatibility. newlineGamma rays possess high energies and most penetrating power due to which gamma radioactive isotopes are extensively being used in medical diagnostic, food processing, security and industry. However their exposure can be harmful to humans and environment thus making sensing and shielding vital for gamma rays. For protection from these rays, high atomic number and high density shielding materials such as concrete, lead and steel have been used in the past. This study is an effort towards searching new materials having better gamma ray sensing (through down- shifting and down conversion) and absorbing properties. newlineThree multi component series: (a) (40 and#8722; 0.5x)B2O3 and#8722; (40 and#8722; 0.5x)P2O5 and#8722; xPbO and#8722; 9.6ZnO and#8722; 9.0Na2O and#8722; 1.0Al2O3 and#8722; 0.2Sm2O3 and#8722; 0.2Gd2O3 (x = 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35), (b) 22.5B2O3 and#8722; newline22.5P2O5 and#8722; 35PbO and#8722; 9.6ZnO and#8722; (10 and#8722; x)Na2O and#8722; xAl2O3 and#8722; 0.2Sm2O3 and#8722; 0.2Gd2O3 (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, newline5) and (c) 20. 8B2O3 and#8722; 20.8P2O5 and#8722; (58 and#8722; x)PbO and#8722; xAl2O3 and#8722; 0.2Sm2O3 and#8722; 0.2Gd2O3 (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, newline10) of samarium (Sm3+) and gadolinium (Gd3+) co-doped lead alumino borophosphate glasses are synthesized by melt-quenching technique and investigated by physical and optical characterization for their worthiness in high energy gamma radiation sensing and shielding. newlineThe first chapter gives basic information related to glasses viz. general types, constituents,