Role of nano-bismuth oxide in tailoring the structural, mechanical, and optical behaviour of boro-tellurite glasses with enhanced radiation absorption

High concentration nano bismuth oxide modified the glass and crystal growth system with a composition formula of 20TeO 2 -(50-x)B 2 O 3 -10ZnO-20 BaO-xBi 2 O 3 , where x ranges from 5 to 25 mol%, increasing by 5 mol%. The five samples were fabricated using melting followed by annealing. Structural samples of Bi5, Bi10, Bi15, Bi20, and Bi25 were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. In order to investigate the optical behaviors with rising bismuth oxide concentration, absorption spectra of the Bi5, Bi10, Bi15, Bi20, and Bi25 samples have been examined in the range of 300 nm–1100 nm. We assessed principal glass stability with Makishima and Mackinze. Examined are the ionizing radiation shielding properties of the generated glass samples, with the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) increasing from 10.93 cm 2 /g to 33.72 cm 2 /g at 0.015 MeV for Bi5 and Bi25, respectively, increasing Bi 2 O 3 mol% significantly enhanced shielding parameters. Compared to Bi5 for 0.5 cm thickness, Bi25 displayed a 63 % greater linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) and a 44.7 % increase in radiation protection efficiency (RPE) at 0.5 MeV. For nuclear and medical uses, these glasses beat conventional concrete and offer attractive lead-free shielding solutions.