Novel zinc vanadyl boro-phosphate glasses: ZnO–V2O5– P2O5–B2O3: Physical, thermal, and nuclear radiation shielding properties

Abstract Novel zinc vanadyl boro-phosphate glasses with nominal compositions 46V2O5–46P2O5-(8-x)B2O3-xZnO (x = 0-8 mol %) have been synthesized and coded as VPB8, VPB6Zn2, VPB4Zn4, VPB2Zn6, and VPZn8, respectively. Amorphous structures for all glasses were confirmed with XRD measurements. Density (ρsample) values of synthesized glasses increased almost linearly from 2.81232 gcm-3 to 2.89944 gcm-3 depending on the addition of ZnO. Glass transition temperatures showed a regular decrease with increasing amount of Zn, and decreased to 411 °C from 431 °C. Substitution of boron with Zn within the structure increased the thermal stability to 82 °C from 63 °C in accordance with the composition. In addition, nuclear radiation shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient, half value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number, and fast neutron removal cross-section (LAC, HVL, MFP, Zeff, and ΣR) for the synthesized glasses have been evaluated. VPB8 glasses have the lowest LAC values that ranged from 43.013 cm-1 at 0.015 MeV to 0.063 cm-1 at 15 MeV, while VPZn8 glasses have the maximum LAC which ranged from 50.524 cm-1 to 0.066 cm-1. HVL and MFP of the prepared samples were in the order of VPB8>VPB6Zn2>VPB4Zn4> VPB2Zn6>VPZn8. Results ensure that VPZn8 glasses have the best shielding ability against nuclear radiation.