Role of low-concentrated Cu₂O₃ additives in changing the structural internal phase, optical property, and radiation gamma-ray shielding ability of Ca/Na lead Arseborate glass

In this work, the multivalent transition metal oxide, Cu₂O₃, has been added in different content to the primary constituents of the Ca/Na lead Arseborate oxide glass. These required glasses were created using the fast-quenching method using the chemical formula: {50 wt% Na₂B₄O₇.10 H₂O–17 wt% CaO–17.5 wt% PbO–17.5 wt% As₂O₃} − x Cu₂O₃ where x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1g. Utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, electron spin resonance absorption (ESR), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, the interior structures of the prepared solids have been examined. Both XRD patterns and FTIR charts clarified that the amount of Cu₂O₃, in the range of 0–1g, did not affect the amorphous nature of Ca/Na lead-based Arseborate oxide glass, with the existence of four fundamental building units in each sample (BO₃, BO₄, PbO₄, and AsO₄). According to the optical characterization using UV–vis spectra, the increase in Cu₂O₃ concentration led to a decrease in optical energy gaps while increasing optical absorbance, optical reflectance, the plasmon frequency, calculated linear and nonlinear refractive indices, optical conductivity, and optoelectric conductivities. The results of the calculations and radioactive measurements indicated that the effective mass number increased as the amount of Cu₂O₃ content was increased, while the mean free path MFP and the half-value layer HVL decreased. According to the results, the examined glasses can be used as IR filters and shields.