Physical, mechanical, neutron-radiation shielding, and optical properties of ternary glasses at equimolar ratio of Na${}_2$O:P${}_2$O${}_5$ with distinct CuO contents

Influence of CuO on the linear/nonlinear optical, elastic, physical features, and radiation protection performance of CuO-based glasses in form (50-y/2)Na${}_2$O + (50-y/2)P${}_2$O${}_5$ + yCuO, (y = 0.0-40 mol%) has been studied in the current article. The density was increased from 2.47 to 3.26 g.cm${}^{-3}$ accomplished with a concurrent decrease in the oxygen molar volume from 13.76 to 12.97 cm${}^3$.mol${}^{-1}$ as the mol% of [Cu${}^{2+}$] enhanced in the tested glasses. Also, the Vickers hardness (H${}_v$) was found to increase with increasing CuO content in the current glass systems. The notable tendency of mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values in the investigated energetic photon range obeyed the sequential order: MAC${}_{CuI-0}$< MAC${}_{CuI-10}$< MAC${}_{CuI-20}$< MAC${}_{CuI-25}$< MAC${}_{CuI-30}$< MAC${}_{CuI-33}$< MAC${}_{CuI-40}$. Also, we found that the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) increased, while the half-value-layer (HVL), and transmission coefficient (TF%) also decreased. The HVL values of the current samples were compared with standard glasses, and it was found to those CuO-based samples possessed a comparable photon protection capacity as RS-360 and RS-520. The linear (n${}^{linear}$) and nonlinear (n${}_2^{optical}$) refractive index increased from 3.914 to 3.983 and from 2.76 × 10${}^{-9}$ and 3.15 × 10${}^{-9}$. Results uncovered that the optical, radiation protection efficiency and elasto-mechanical characteristics might at the same time be adjusted for an in- or/and out-door scientific and medical applications.