Comprehensive analysis of structure–property–shielding relationships in Pr2O3-modified tellurite glass systems

This work investigated the structural, thermal, mechanical, and shielding characteristics of a tellurite-based glass series with the composition 60TeO₂-12.5Nb₂O₅-12.5ZnO-(15-x)LiF-xPr₂O₃, where x ranged from 0.5 to 5.0 mol%. The novelty of this study lay in a comprehensive analysis that combined multiple techniques. The research involved using the radial distribution function (RDF) with Gaussian fitting to determine structural parameters and the fraction of trigonal bipyramidal (TeO₄), N₄(X-ray) representation for each glass sample. The study also utilized deconvoluted FTIR spectra to further characterize the glass structure. Results showed the transformation of trigonal pyramidal (TeO₃) tp units to trigonal bipyramidal (TeO₄) tbp units and consequently enhanced the rigidity of the glass structure with addition of Pr₂O₃. Additionally, it established a logarithmic correlation across the entire glass series, linking the molar volume (V_m) with the experimental bulk modulus (K_exp​), [Formula: see text], and explored the correlations between these properties and the power (α). The ring deformation model was applied to calculate the average atomic ring diameter. Increased Pr₂​O₃​ content enhanced the glass's thermal stability. This was evidenced by a significant rise in its glass transition temperature and onset crystallization temperature, indicating a more rigid and stable structure. In addition, various shielding parameters were determined. The results of this investigation highlight the excellent gamma photon shielding capabilities of these glasses.