Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials, cilt.0, sa.0, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
A new glass system with the composition 60B₂O₃ + 30PbF₂ + (10–x)K₂O + x Er₂O₃ (x = 0 to 3 mol%) was synthesized using the melt-quenching technique and comprehensively analyzed to evaluate its structural, optical, mechanical, and radiation shielding properties. Increasing Er₂O₃ concentration enhanced the density (from 4.260 to 4.89 g/cm³) and reduced the molar volume (from 29.28 to 28.98 cm³/mol), indicating a denser and more compact glass matrix. Optical studies revealed increased UV absorbance, a red shift in the cutoff wavelength, and a reduction in the optical energy gap from 3.487 to 3.335 eV (direct transitions). Enhanced refractive index and extinction coefficients further underscored the glasses’ potential for optical applications. Mechanical analyses demonstrated a significant increase in all elastic moduli, including Young’s, bulk, and shear moduli, with Er₂O₃ incorporation, indicating improved rigidity and mechanical stability. The radiation shielding performance of the glasses was assessed across photon energies of 0.015–15 MeV, incorporating both experimental data and machine learning (ML)-based predictions of mass attenuation coefficients (MAC). The ML model, developed using a neural network architecture, successfully predicted MAC values with high accuracy, demonstrating excellent agreement with XCOM-calculated results. Key shielding parameters, including half-value layer (HVL), effective atomic number (Z_eff), and buildup factors (EABF and EBF), improved significantly with higher Er₂O₃ content. BPKE3 glass, with the highest Er₂O₃ concentration, exhibited the best shielding efficiency, outperforming conventional shielding materials in terms of lower HVL and buildup factors, coupled with higher MAC and Z_eff values. This study highlights the dual role of Er₂O₃-doped lead borate glasses as efficient optical and radiation shielding materials, aiding material optimization for applications in nuclear, medical, and industrial fields.