Optical and radiation attenuation properties of rare-earth ion doped Li2O–ZnO–B2O3 glasses

The role of the addition of rare-earth ions which are Pr2O3, N2O3, Sm2O3, and Eu2O3 to Li2O–ZnO–B2O3 glasses on the optical and radiation attenuation characteristics was theoretically investigated. According to the addition of the rare-earth ions, the glasses were named as LZB, LZBPr, LZBNd, LZBSm and LZBEu. The LZB glass has the greatest molar refractivity and the molar polarizability whereas LZBPr glass has the lowest molar refractivity and the molar polarizability. The reflection loss is the highest for the LZB and the optical transmission is the highest for LZBEu. Especially, at higher gamma-ray energy (5–15 MeV), the linear attenuation coefficients are the greatest for LZBPr and they are the lowest for LZB. The LZBPr has the lowest half value layer, tenth value layer and mean free path at 10 MeV gamma-ray energy. At higher gamma-ray energies, LZBPr has the better radiation protection efficiency. Consequently, the LZBPr glass has the superior radiation attenuation ability and the addition of rare-earth ions to LZB glass enhances radiation shielding ability of the studied glasses. •The εstatic and εoptical descend with addition of rare earth ions.•As rare earth ion is added, the Rloss reduces whereas Tloss enhances.•LZBPr has the superior radiation attenuation ability.•Addition of rare earth ions enhance radiation shielding capability.