Synthesis and investigation of the physical, structural, and radiation shielding properties of the titano-bismuth phosphate glasses

The glasses of the 20Li₂O–35Li₂WO₄–(15-x)TiO₂–xBi₂O₃–30P₂O₅ system with 0 ≤ x ≤ 15 mol% have been prepared using the melt quenching route. X-ray patterns confirmed the amorphous state of the prepared glasses, and the SEM image showed no agglomeration. The structure of these obtained glasses was analyzed by examining the density and molar volume measurements. It was found that the density increased from 3.873 g/cm³ at LWTBP-0 (x = 0 mol%) to 4.740 g/cm³ at LWTBP-15 (x = 15 mol%). But for the molar volume, this is characterized by an increase in molar volume from 39.282 cm³/mol at LWTBP-0 (x = 0 mol%) to 44.317 cm³/mol at LWTBP-15 (x = 15). Additionally, the oxygen packing density value decreased from 86.554 mol/L (LWTBP-0) to 80.104 mol/L (LWTBP-15), but the oxygen molar volume value increased from 11.553 cm³/mol (LWTBP-0) to 12.484 cm³/mol. This is because the amount of Bi₂O₃ in the glassy structure increased from x = 0 mol% (LWTBP-0) to x = 15 mol% (LWTBP-15). Also, the structure of the prepared glasses has been investigated through infrared spectroscopy, and the band positions and functional groups have been confirmed for the framework phosphates. The radiation shielding properties of the glasses have been analyzed by Phy-X software. The obtained results showed that the maximum mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values are observable at the energy of 0.284 MeV and are equal to 0.215, 0.247, 0.273, and 0.294 cm²/g for LWTBP-0, LWTBP-5, LWTBP-10, and LWTBP-15, respectively. The sample with the composition 20Li₂O–35Li₂WO₄–15Bi₂O₃–30P₂O has the highest MAC at 0.284 MeV. The half-value layer (HVL) at 0.284 MeV decreased from 0.830 to 0.498 cm due to the increase in the Bi₂O₃ content from 0 to 20 mol%.