Environment friendly La3+ ions doped phosphate glasses/glass-ceramics for gamma radiation shielding: Their potential in nuclear safety applications

Abstract

Gamma-photon, neutron, and proton shielding parameters of La3+ ions doped multicomponent phosphate glasses/glass-ceramics of composition 50P2O5–30Sb2O3–10CaO–5Al2O3–5TeO2+xLa2O3 (La0–La5): x = 0–5 in steps of 1 mol% have been evaluated. These parameters were evaluated utilizing the WinXcom and EXABCal computer codes. Results revealed that the maximum values of MAC were 25.72, 26.85, 27.39, 27.91, and 28.41 cm2/g for La0–La5, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum and minimum values of LAC were obtained at 15 keV and 10 MeV, respectively with values of 91.82 and 0.107 cm−1, 94.67 and 0.108 cm−1, 98.55 and 0.111 cm−1, 101.62 and 0.113 cm−1, 105.22 and 0.115 cm−1, 107.96 and 0.116 cm−1. Values of HVL and MFP were varied according to the order (La5)HVL < (La4)HVL < (La3)HVL < (La2)HVL < (La1)HVL < (La0)HVL for all energies. The Zeff values were found to be maximum at 0.06 MeV and varied from 29.08 to 30.28 for La0 to La5, while the least values of Zeff were recorded at 1.5 MeV and varied from 14.88 to 15.53 for La0 to La5 samples. The buildup factors (B) at 15 MeV followed the trend (La0)B < (La1)B < (La2)B < (La3)B < (La4)B < (La5)B. The values of R for fast neutrons were 0.0911, 0.0989, 0.1078, 0.1157, 0.1242, and 0.1316 cm−1 for La0– La5, respectively. The maximum range of proton was obtained at the maximum kinetic energy (10 MeV) having the values: 0.574, 0.569, 0.559, 0.553, 0.544, and 0.540 mm for La0– La5, respectively. Therefore, the increase of La3+ doping in La0–La5 samples has a positive influence on their radiation shielding capability. It can be concluded that, La0–La5 samples can attenuate photons, neutrons, alpha particles, and protons and as such, they can be applied successfully in nuclear shielding applications.