Role of CeO2 in the enhancement of the properties of the SiO2-B2O3-BaO-Li2O-glass system: Structural, mechanical and radiation shielding study

The melt quenching technique enables the production of glasses with controlled compositions, 24SiO2-56B2O310BaO-(10-x) Li2O-xCeO2, where x (0 <= x >= 2) mol%. Using nomenclature CL0, CL0.5, CL1, CL1.5, and CL2, based on the x value of CeO2 concentrations. PhyX/PSD code was used to determine the gamma radiation shield, while X-ray diffraction (XRD), density (rho), mechanical measurement, and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) were used to evaluate the structure and elastic properties of the manufactured glasses. The relationship between CeO2 content and the density (rho), mechanical measurement, and other physical considerations of the glasses aligns with expectations. Thus, it follows that the glass composition with no CeO2 (CL0) would have the smallest density, ultrasonic velocities, and elastic modulus while the composition with the highest CeO2 content (CL2) would exhibit the greatest density, ultrasonic velocities, and elastic modulus among the studied glasses. Unique characteristics of the FT-IR spectra were discovered, providing details on how the concentration of CeO2 affects the structural alterations in the Si-O-Si units of these glasses, as well as the transformation of BO3 (triangular) to BO4 (tetrahedral) is a notable change that might signify a shift in the glass structure. Calculating radiation shielding factors as mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), equivalent atomic number (Zeq), and effective atomic number (Zeff) and exploring their relationships with CeO2 content, energy, and density is crucial for assessing the efficiency of these glasses. Adjusting the concentration of CeO2 in place of Li2O offered a viable strategy for improving the shielding capabilities against radiation in these glasses.