Experimental study on borotellurite glasses unveiling the radiation attenuation effects of BaO and Er2O3

This work focuses on the preparation of borotellurite glasses doped with BaO, Bi2O3, and Er2O3, and the investigation of their radiation attenuation parameters. A narrow beam experiment was conducted to assess the attenuation factors of the glasses. A positive relationship was observed between the linear attenuation coefficient and the concentration of Er2O3. The linear attenuation coefficient for the Er2O3-free glass at 0.059 MeV is 19.729 cm-?, while for the sample with 3 mol % Er2O3, it is 26.113 cm-?. At 0.662 MeV, the linear attenuation coefficient for the Er2O3-free glass and the glass with 3 mol % Er2O3 are 0.426 cm-? and 0.461 cm-?, respectively. The mean free path of the glasses exhibited an inverse relationship with increasing Er2O3 content. For the glass containing 1 mol % Er2O3, the mean free path values are 0.046 cm, 2.285 cm, and 3.556 cm at 0.059 MeV, 0.662 MeV, and 1.173 MeV, respectively. The half-value layer was calculated, and the results indicated that the addition of Er2O3 causes a decrease in the half-value layer, suggesting an enhancement in the radiation attenuation performance of the prepared glasses as more Er2O3 is added.