Effect of tm2o3 and CEO2 additions to boro-tellurite glass matrix on structural, optical, mechanical and radiation shielding properties

This study aimed to produce glass materials with high radiation shielding capacity and improved physical, mechanical, optical, elastic and thermal properties. For this purpose, four different series of glasses were prepared by adding rare earth elements cerium oxide (CeO₂) and thulium oxide (Tm₂O₃) at 0–5 mol% to B₂O₃–CdO–TeO₂ and Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃–CdO–TeO₂ glass matrices. Glass samples were synthesized at 950°C by conventional melting method and subjected to multi-dimensional characterization analyses. Structural characterizations were performed by XRD, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy methods, and it was determined that all samples were amorphous. In FTIR and Raman results, characteristic vibrations of B–O, Te–O and B–O–B bonds were observed, thus confirming the formation of a glassy network structure. In optical analyses, it was determined that the optical band gap narrowed slightly with the doping ratio and the optical transmittance decreased using UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. In thermal analyses, differential thermal analysis (DTA) technique was used and it was observed that the addition of CeO₂ and Tm₂O₃ increased the glass transition temperature and thermal stability. In terms of mechanics, the hardness of CeO₂ doped glasses increased from 3.79 to 4.49 GPa, and the fracture toughness increased from 0.46 to 0.74 MPa m⁰.⁵. In Tm₂O₃ doped samples, the hardness increased from 4.17 to 4.50 GPa, and the fracture toughness increased from 0.49 to 0.75 MPa m⁰.⁵. In addition, Young's modulus, elasticity and bulk moduli increased with the doping ratio. As a result of the examination of the radiation shielding properties, it was observed that CeO₂ and Tm₂O₃ additives significantly increased the radiation absorption capacity of the glasses, demonstrating the potential of these new generation glasses to be used as effective protective materials in areas such as nuclear energy, medical imaging and space technologies.