Physical, structural, optical, and gamma ray shielding properties of Li${}_2$O-ZnO-SiO${}_2$-P${}_2$O${}_5$ glasses doped with Nd${}_2$O${}_3$

Novel Li${}_2$O-ZnO-SiO${}_2$-P${}_2$O${}_5$ glasses doped with Nd${}_2$O${}_3$ have been prepared via the ordinary melt-quenching technique. Density and molar volume, FTIR spectra, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy were used to investigate the physical, structural, and optical properties of glasses. The density increases from 2.545 to 2.644 g.cm${}^{-3}$ and the molar volume decreases from 38.158 to 37.794 cm${}^3$ mol${}^{-1}$. The values of the optical gap energies of the samples increased from 3.331 to 3.712 eV with the addition of Nd${}^{3+}$ ions. The results of the infrared spectra analysis showed many vibration modes, and it was found that the intensity of both P-O${}^{-}$ and Si-O${}^{-}$ vibration modes decreases with the increase in (Nd${}^{3+}$ ions, which confirms the increase in the bridging oxygen (BO). The theoretical optical basicity (Λ${}_{th.}$) values increased from 1.205 to 1.238, while the interaction (A) values decreased from 0.2209 to 0.2189 Å${}^3$. The nuclear radiation shielding parameters, such as mass attenuation coefficient, mean free path, half-value layer, effective atomic number, and electron density, were estimated using Phy-X/PSD and XCOM software programs. The effect of Nd${}_2$O${}_3$ content on radiation protection properties was evaluated. The results showed that the LiZnSiP:4Nd glass sample gave the best protection against gamma and neutron radiation.