Shielding parameters and UV spectral studies on modified borate glasses doped with Gd2O3.

xGd2O3–5SrO–(23.5−x)CaO–26Na2O–2.8P2O5–42.7B2O3 glasses have been synthesized via the well-known melt quenching technique. Gd2O3 content was increased from 0 to 0.5 mol% in steps of 0.1 at the expense of CaO, in the chemical composition of these glasses. The optical band gap was obtained using UV–Vis spectroscopy. Based on the absorption spectra, the optical energy gap (Eg) is evaluated using the Davis–Mott relation. Eg values decrease from 3.176 to 2.92 eV and from 3.55 to 3.43 eV for indirect and direct band gaps, respectively, with the incorporation of Gd2O3. Several optical properties, such as refractive index, optical basicity, dielectric constant, and molar polarization, have been calculated for every glass composition to interpret the experimental data. The refractive index was enhanced with the addition of Gd ions. The absorption edge was shifted toward the higher wavelength side from 366 to 383.66 nm by incorporating Gd2O3. The radiation shielding properties of the synthesized samples were calculated using the Phy-X/PSD program in the energy interval 0.015–15 MeV. The results showed that increasing Gd2O3 content increases mass and linear attenuation coefficients ( μ m and μ ), whereas the half-value layer (HVL) decreases. This glass system suits shielding and optical applications based on the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]