Impact of ZnO Modifier Concentration on TeO₂ Glass Matrix for Optical and Gamma-Ray Shielding Capabilities

This study carried out a comparison of the optical and gamma ray shielding features of TeO₂ with and without ZnO modifier concentration. Incorporating ZnO into the TeO₂ network reduces the indirect band gap from 3.515-3.481 eV. When ZnO is added, refractive indices, dielectric constants, and optical dielectric constants rise from 2.271-2.278, 5.156-5.191, and 4.156-4.191 accordingly. The transmission coefficient and reflection loss are in direct opposition to each other. With increasing ZnO concentration in the selected glasses, the values of molar refractivity and molar polarizability decrease from 18.767-15.018 cm³/mol and from 7.444 × 10^-24-5.957 × 10^-24 cm³, respectively, while the electronic polarizability rises from 8.244 × 10²⁴-8.273 × 10²⁴, correspondingly. As expected by the metallization values, the glass systems are non-metallic. The linear attenuation coefficients (LAC) of the studied glass samples ensue through enhancing the photon energy range 0.0395-0.3443 MeV. There is a very slow decrease in the LAC from an energy of 0.1218-0.3443 MeV, yet there is a sharp decrease from an energy of 0.0401-0.0459 MeV. According to the obtained values of numerous shielding parameters such as LAC, MAC, HVL, MFP, and Z_eff sample, Zn30 has shown the best radiation shielding ability comprising other studied samples.