Structural, optical, and gamma shielding performance of arsenic-doped borate glasses

Arsenic-doped borate glasses [xAs 2 O 3 – (60−x)B 2 O 3 – 20BaO – 20K 2 O; x = 0–10 mol%] were synthesized by melt-quenching and investigated for structural, optical, and gamma shielding properties. XRD and FTIR confirmed amorphous networks with BO 3 /BO 4 and AsO 4 units, while increasing As 2 O 3 raised density (2.94–3.20 g/cm 3 ) and reduced the optical band gap (3.32–1.49 eV). Gamma attenuation analysis showed improved shielding with higher As content, reflected in greater mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers, and reduced HVL and MFP. Distinct EBF peaks near arsenic and barium K-edges confirmed enhanced low-energy photon interactions. Compared with concretes, the glasses exhibited superior shielding while retaining optical transparency, demonstrating their potential as multifunctional radiation-protective materials.