The role of Sm₂O₃ and PbO in optimizing mechanical, optical, structural, and radiation shielding properties for...

A new series of quaternary barium-lead-borate glasses doped with Sm₂O₃ was synthesized via the melt-quench technique. This study comprehensively investigates the impact of varying PbO and Sm₂O₃ concentrations on the glasses' structural, optical, mechanical, and radiation shielding properties. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the structural role of B₂O₃ and the formation of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) units. Optical analysis showed a decrease in the optical band gap energy with increasing PbO and Sm₂O₃ content, further confirming the rise in NBOs. Concurrently, a reduction in all elastic moduli indicated a decrease in the mechanical stability of the glass network. In contrast, theoretical studies conducted using the Phy-X PSD software demonstrated a significant enhancement in radiation shielding properties, such as the linear attenuation coefficient, with the addition of both PbO and Sm₂O₃. The results indicate a clear trade-off: while the incorporation of PbO and Sm₂O₃ degrades the mechanical stability of the glass network, it markedly improves its efficacy for radiation shielding applications.