Radiation damage effect on optical properties of dysprosium doped lithium lead gadolinium silicate glasses

High-energy radiations (X-rays, gamma-rays) cause glasses to alter in terms of their physical, optical, and electrical properties. Gamma rays are the radiations that induceabsorption bands in the visible and ultraviolet spectra, they predominantly affect these regions. Lithium Lead Gadolinium Silicate Glass, with the chemical formula 25Li2O-15PbO-05Gd2O3-(55-X)SiO2, was made using the melt quenching method. Glass samples were exposed to 60Co radioisotope. Four emission peaks were visible at 350 nm excitation wavelengths before gamma irradiation. Peak intensity changed following radiation (3 Gy-10 kGy), but there was no change in peak positions. UV–Vis spectra showed the irradiated sample varying absorption levels. Excitation spectra at 575 nm emission wavelength also showed significant differences. Seven peaks that were linked to the Dy3+ ion transition were found to be present (200–800 nm). While a tendency towards the blue shift of the spectrum was observed, gamma radiation might have a slight impact on the bond angle or bond length of certain structural composition. Using the Tauc method, band gap was investigated from UV–Vis spectra, which revealed changes with gamma irradiation dose.