Lithium magnesium borosilicate glass: the impact of alternate doping with nano copper oxide and nano hematite on its structural, optical, and nuclear radiation shielding characteristics

This study established a new glass system for nuclear radiation shielding based on lithium magnesium borosilicate glass doped with different weights percent of Nano copper oxide and Nano hematite alternatively. The new glass system has the following composition; 60%BO₃ + 15%SiO₂ + 10%Li₂O + 5%MgO + (10-X)Fe₂O₃ + XCuO where X = 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 wt.%, which were coded as BSLMFCu_X. The prepared BSLMFCu_X glasses have been characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman, X-ray diffraction, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The radiation shielding performance was proven experimentally (using an HPGe detector) in the γ-photon energies emitted from the radionuclides ¹³³Ba, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁶⁰Co. The theoretical assessment was done (using Monte-Carlo code-5 and Phy-X/PSD software) in γ-photon energy range of 0.015: 15 MeV. Also, the neutron shielding performance was assessed through the fast neutron cross-section investigation. In addition, the carbon ion and alpha particles mass stopping power was calculated. The BSLMFoCu₁₀ glass sample therefore presents the best gamma and fast neutron shielding capability among the prepared BSLMFCu_X glasses due to the high content of copper oxide.