Structural evolution and dual γ-neutron shielding performance of nano-Gd2O3 reinforced lithium borotellurite glasses
Durmus, Hasan, Kilic, G., Ilik, E., Kavaz, E., Guler, Omer, Birdogan, Selcuk, ALMisned, Ghada, Tekin, H. O.
This study investigates the structural, physical, and radiation-shielding properties of nano-Gd2O3-reinforced lithium borotellurite glasses with the composition 50TeO2-30B2O3-(20-x)Li2O-xGd2O3 (x= 0-10 mol %). X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the fully amorphous nature of the glasses and the homogeneous distribution of nanoscale Gd clusters. Density increased from 4.03 to 4.77 g/cm3, accompanied by compositional shifts, decreasing boron and increasing oxygen and tellurium contents, indicating enhanced structural compactness and electron density. Gamma-ray attenuation measurements revealed a 74 % increase in the linear attenuation coefficient from 8.33 to 14.53 cm-1 at 81 key and a nearly 27 % reduction in the half-value layer from 1.21 to 0.89 cm. Effective atomic number values remained highest for Gd(n)10 across the photon energy range investigated. Experimental neutron dose measurements showed absorption improvements from 37.66 % to 51.91 %, while the effective removal cross-section increased from 0.1066 to 0.1096 cm-1, outperforming water, B4C, and graphite. Compared with the Gd-doped zinc borotellurite glasses reported in the literature, the present lithium-based system exhibited higher densification and superior dual gamma-neutron attenuation. These results demonstrate that controlled nano-Gd2O3 integration into the lithium borotellurite matrix yields a stable, lead-free amorphous material with outstanding radiation-shielding efficiency for advanced photonic and nuclear applications.
- Journal
- JOURNAL OF NON-CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS
- Year
- 2026
- Volume
- 677
- ISSN
- 0022-3093
- eISSN
- 1873-4812
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2026.123989
- WoS UID
- WOS:001680440100001