Impact of HfO2 on the structural, thermal, gamma, and neutron shielding properties of boro-tellurite glasses

This study explores the structural, thermal, and radiation shielding properties of boro-tellurite glasses doped with varying concentrations of HfO2, a material relevant for radiation protection in medical and nuclear applications. The glass system, consisting of TeO2-B2O3-WO3-HfO2, was synthesized using the melt-quenching technique with HfO2 content ranging from 0 to 10 mol%. XRD and FT-IR analyses confirmed the amorphous structure and stable glass network. The addition of HfO2 notably enhanced thermal properties, as reflected by an increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg) from 402 °C (TBWH-0) to 419 °C (TBWH-10), indicating stronger bonding within the glass matrix. Gamma radiation shielding improved with higher HfO2 content, especially at lower photon energies. At 80.99 keV, the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) increased from 2.746 cm2/g (TBWH-0) to 3.246 cm2/g (TBWH-10), demonstrating better gamma attenuation. The mean free path (MFP) decreased from 1.6299 cm (TBWH-0) to 1.4510 cm (TBWH-10) at 0.356 MeV, further enhancing shielding efficiency. The fast neutron removal cross-section (ƩR) reached its maximum in the TBWH-3 sample, with neutron dose absorption rising by 30.68 %. Overall, the inclusion of HfO2 significantly enhances both gamma and neutron shielding performance, making these glasses promising candidates for high-radiation environments.