Evaluation of structural, elastic properties and nuclear radiation shielding competence of Nd3+ doped lithium-zinc-phosphate glasses

Nd3+ doped lithium-zinc-phosphate glasses were synthesized by melt-quenching technique. FTIR spectra were recorded in the wavenumber range of 400–4000 cm−1. Elastic parameters such as Debye temperature and fractal bond connectivity were calculated. The results revealed that these parameters were influenced by the glass system's composition and dopant concentration. The mass and linear attenuation coefficients (MAC, LAC) of gamma-ray photons at the energy range from 0.015 to 15 MeV have been investigated using the Phy-X/PSD software program as well as the XCOM database program. Both MAC and LAC increase with the increase in the amount of Nd2O3. Also, the mean free path values and the half-value layer decrease while the density increases with the increase of the Nd2O3 content. Moreover, the fast neutron removal cross section was also presented and the results were compared with the concrete and commercial shielding glasses.