Gamma attenuation properties of Tm2O3 doped tellurite glass for radiation shielding

Tm2O3 doped tellurite glasses ((64.9-x)TeO2+15ZnO+10Bi2O3+10WO3+0.1Er2O3+xTm2O3) were prepared using the conventional melt-and-quench system. The tellurite glass samples, doped with varying concentrations of Tm2O3 (x = 0 (TZBWET1), 0.4 (TZBWET2), 0.8 (TZBWET3), and 1.0 (TZBWET4) mol%) were studied for their ability to absorb gamma radiation. The mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) of the glasses were computed for gamma photons beams having energies E within the range 0.015 ≤ E ≤ 15 MeV using the popular and accurate NIST-XCOM database. The density of TZBWET1, TZBWET2, TZBWET3, and TZBWET4 is 6.006 g/cm3, 6.141 g/cm3, 6.259 g/cm3, and 6.308 g/cm3, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficients varied within the range 0.036–57.990 cm2/g, 0.036–58.233 cm2/g, 0.036–58.475 cm2/g, and 0.036–58.597 cm2/g for TZBWET1, TZBWET2, TZBWET3, and TZBWET4, respectively. The corresponding linear attenuation coefficients are within 0.236–348.290 cm−1, 0.241–357.607 cm−1, 0.246–365.994 cm−1, and 0.248–369.623 cm−1, respectively. The shielding potential of the glasses improved with the addition of Tm2O3. The TZBWET glasses showed better shielding potential with respect to commercial shielding glasses and thus are environmentally friendly alternative to available Pb-rich commercial glass shields. The study provided valuable insights into the potential use of Tm2O3 doped tellurite glass as a promising material for radiation shielding applications, particularly in nuclear power, medical imaging, and industrial radiography.