A study on zinc-borate glasses: synthesis, structure, FTIR spectroscopy, optical, mechanical, dielectric properties, and radiation protection competence.

Six series of strontium lead-borate blocks with general chemical form (60-x)B₂O₃-10Li₂O-20ZnO-10PbO-xSrO: x = 0 (BLZPS-0)—25 (BLZPS-25) mol% were synthesized by the melt-quench method. FTIR spectroscopy, density, and γ-rays buildup factors of the prepared glasses were investigated. Dielectric spectroscopic properties of glasses are conducted during frequencies interval from 50 Hz to 5 MHz at room temperature. Density of BLZPS glasses increased from 3.2824 g/cm³ to 3.8717 g.cm⁻³ as the SrO mol% enhanced from 0.0 to 25.0 mol%. Relative portion of BO₄ (N₄) enhanced at the cost of BO₃ (N₃) relative portion with an increase in SrO content up to 10 mol%, and then back transformation of BO₄ to BO₃ is observed by increasing SrO over 10 mol%. In terms of dielectric spectroscopy, the real part of permittivity was decreased by SrO doping up to 10 mol% and then enhanced. The increase in glass matrix solidity caused by switching from NBOs networks "BO₃" to BOs networks "BO₄" with an increase in strontium content up to 10 mol% is considered the responsible for the reduction in real part of permittivity by SrO content up to 10 mol%. The relaxation peaks detected in tan δ were enhanced by strontium (Sr) doping. The optical energy gap (E_g) varied 2.79 eV to 2.91 eV. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) of these blocks was boosted from 41.322 to 42.268 cm²/g when E = 0.015 MeV. Sample encoded BLZPS-25 possessed the lowest values of half value layer (HVL), but highest values of Z_eq along all energy range. The exposure-(EBF) and energy-absorption-(EABF) buildup parameters were increased with increasing SrO mol% in these networks. In conclusion, BLZPS-25 glass demonstrates a higher effectiveness in absorbing gamma radiation compared to other samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]