A journey for exploration of Eu2O3 reinforcement effect on zinc-borate glasses: Synthesis, optical, physical and nuclear radiation shielding properties

In this study, a series of the zinc-borate glasses with a nominal composition of (100-x)-(60ZnO·40B2O3)-xEu2O3 (where x = 0,1,2,3 mol%) were successfully synthesized. To characterize the direct impact of Eu2O3 additive on optical, physical and nuclear radiation shielding properties of zinc-borate glasses, different types of experimental methods for physical and optical investigation were implemented. MCNPX (version 2.6.0) was implemented for determination of mass attenuation coefficients of fabricated glasses. The first impact of Eu2O3 additive has been obtained in density and molar volume variations. The experimental analyses showed that both values tended to increase from 3.672 gmol-1 to 3.972 gmol-1 regularly and almost linearly. On other hand, optical band gaps obtained from Tauc plots drawn accordingly decreased from 4.474 eV (ZB) to 3.368 eV (ZBEu3) in respect to Eu2O3 concentration. maximum nuclear shielding competence has been provided with maximum Eu2O3 concentration in the glass. The increasing Eu2O3 reinforcement has directly affected the glass behaviors against gamma-ray, fast neutrons and heavy charged particles such as alpha and proton. Among fabricated zinc-borate glasses, superior material features were observed for ZBEu3 sample with 3% mol Eu2O3 concentration.