Durmus, Hasan; Kilic, G.; Ilik, E.; Kavaz, E.; Güler, Ömer; Birdogan, Selcuk; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates the structural evolution and radiation shielding performance of lithium borotellurite glasses reinforced with nano-sized HfO2. We report on the competitive dynamics between the depolymerizing nature of the Li + network modifier and the high field strength Hf4+ nano-dopant, a relationship not previously explored in this matrix. Structural analysis via XRD and TEM reveals that the glass remains fully amorphous with homogeneously dispersed Hf rich nanodomains up to 4 mol%. A critical solubility threshold is identified at 6 mol%, where the precipitation of HfO2 and HfTe3O8 crystalline phases marks a distinct transition from an amorphous state to a glass-ceramic microstructure. Physical property measurements indicate that Hf4+ ions primarily occupy interstitial free volumes, leading to enhanced material density without significant network dilation. The incorporation of nano-HfO2 significantly augments gamma-ray attenuation efficiency, particularly in the low-energy region, by substantially increasing the effective atomic number and reducing the half value layer. Furthermore, the glasses exhibit robust fast-neutron shielding capabilities, outperforming conventional materials such as graphite and B4C. These findings establish nano-HfO2 as a potent structural and radiative modifier, providing a novel roadmap for designing high-density, multifunctional glass-ceramic shields for advanced nuclear applications.

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Kilic, G.; Ilik, E.; Kavaz, E.; Durmus, Hasan; Güler, Ömer; Birdogan, Selcuk; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates the effects of holmium oxide (Ho2O3) microparticle reinforcement on the structural, physical, and radiation shielding properties of borotellurite glasses with compositions ranging from 0 to 12 mol% Ho2O3. X-ray diffraction and TEM analyses confirmed the retention of amorphous structure across all samples, with localized short-range ordering observed at higher Ho contents. Glass density increased from 4.598 to 5.202 g/cm3 with increasing Ho2O3, while molar volume expanded from 27.94 to 30.61 cm3/mol, and oxygen packing density decreased from 0.605 to 0.551 g/cm3, indicating network expansion due to the substitution of lighter Li + ions by heavier Ho3+. Gamma-ray shielding properties significantly improved with Ho incorporation. At 81 keV, the linear attenuation coefficient increased from 8.33 to 13.70 cm−1, and the mass attenuation coefficient improved from 2.066 to 2.735 cm2/g. Moreover, effective atomic number rose from 44.9 to 52.5 and half-value layer decreased by 20.5% at 383 keV, and buildup factors dropped by up to 34% at 0.5 MeV. Neutron dose absorption improved, and the fast neutron removal cross-section increased from 0.1066 to 0.1113 cm−1. These results confirm that Ho2O3 contributes as a highly effective multifunctional dopant, significantly enhancing both gamma-ray and neutron shielding performance of borotellurite glasses, one of the most promising glass systems for advanced radiation protection applications.

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Durmus, Hasan; Kilic, G.; Ilik, E.; Kavaz, E.; Güler, Ömer; Birdogan, Selcuk; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates the structural, physical, and radiation-shielding properties of nano-Gd2O3-reinforced lithium borotellurite glasses with the composition 50TeO2-30B2O3-(20-x)Li2O-xGd2O3 (x= 0-10 mol %). X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the fully amorphous nature of the glasses and the homogeneous distribution of nanoscale Gd clusters. Density increased from 4.03 to 4.77 g/cm3, accompanied by compositional shifts, decreasing boron and increasing oxygen and tellurium contents, indicating enhanced structural compactness and electron density. Gamma-ray attenuation measurements revealed a 74 % increase in the linear attenuation coefficient from 8.33 to 14.53 cm−1 at 81 keV and a nearly 27 % reduction in the half-value layer from 1.21 to 0.89 cm. Effective atomic number values remained highest for Gd(n)10 across the photon energy range investigated. Experimental neutron dose measurements showed absorption improvements from 37.66 % to 51.91 %, while the effective removal cross-section increased from 0.1066 to 0.1096 cm−1, outperforming water, B4C, and graphite. Compared with the Gd-doped zinc borotellurite glasses reported in the literature, the present lithium-based system exhibited higher densification and superior dual γ-neutron attenuation. These results demonstrate that controlled nano-Gd2O3 integration into the lithium borotellurite matrix yields a stable, lead-free amorphous material with outstanding radiation-shielding efficiency for advanced photonic and nuclear applications.

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Durmus, Hasan; Kilic, Gökhan; Ilik, E.; Kavaz, Erkan; Güler, Ömer; Birdoğan, Selcuk; Almisned, Ghada; Tekin, Hüseyin Ozan

This study presents a systematic investigation of lithium borotellurite glasses reinforced with nano-Eu2O3, with the aim to enhance the structural stability and radiation shielding performance. Glasses were synthesized with Eu2O3 concentrations from 0 to 10 mol % and characterized through density, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the density increased steadily from 4.030 to 4.734 g/cm3 with the Eu addition, while the molar volume also expanded, indicating that the incorporation of larger Eu3+ ions induced network expansion alongside densification. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed amorphous structures for all the compositions except Eu(n)2, which exhibited local crystallinity, later suppressed at higher Eu levels. The transmission electron microscopy pictures and energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping showed homogeneous nanoparticle distribution without clustering. Gamma-ray attenuation studies demonstrated clear improvements with Eu doping: the linear attenuation coefficient increased from 8.33 cm−1 (Eu(n)0) to 12.42 cm−1 (Eu(n)10) at 81 keV, while the half-value layer values decreased, confirming superior low-energy absorption. Experimental neutron studies revealed ΣR values comparable to standard neutron moderators, with Eu(n)10 showing a favorable balance of gamma and neutron shielding. Limitations include the restricted photon energy window and single neutron source. Future work should extend testing to higher energies, thermal/epithermal neutron ranges, and mechanical and durability assessments. Overall, nano-Eu2O3 reinforcement provides a promising pathway toward multifunctional transparent shielding glasses.

İncele

Ilik, E.; Guler, Seval Hale; Güler, Ömer; Durmus, Hasan; Kavaz, E.; Birdogan, Selcuk; ALMisned, Ghada; Kilic, G.; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates the influence of high entropy oxide (HEO) and high entropy alloy oxide (HEAO) dopants on the structural, optical, and radiation shielding properties of zinc-borate glasses. Two synthesis routes were employed through direct mechanical alloying of five rare-earth oxides such as Sm2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Yb2O3, Gd2O3 to form (SmHoErYbGd)2O3 HEO, and mechanical alloying of the corresponding rare-earth metals followed by oxidation to produce HEAO of the same elemental composition. The central hypothesis proposed that the dopant structure and oxygen coordination, not just elemental presence, critically influence the on characteristic behaviors in terms of radiation attenuation. Structural analyses confirmed that HEAO-doped glasses exhibit more homogeneous, amorphous networks. Optical characterizations revealed red-shifted absorption edges and lower Urbach energies in HEAO samples, indicating reduced disorder. HEAO-doped glasses showed superior gamma-ray shielding, with higher linear attenuation coefficients and lower half-value layers than HEO or undoped samples. Most notably, HEAO glass achieved the highest fast neutron removal cross-section, surpassing water, graphite, and B4C. These findings demonstrate that rare-earth high entropy alloy oxides offer a structurally optimized pathway for designing next-generation multifunctional glasses for radiation-related applications.

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Kilic, G.; Durmus, Hasan; Birdogan, Selçuk; Ilik, E.; Perişanoğlu, Esra Kavaz; Saltık, Sevda; Guler, Ömer; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

In this study, a novel series of nano-Sm2O3-doped lithium borotellurite glasses was synthesized and systematically investigated in terms of their structural, physical, and radiation shielding characteristics. X-ray diffraction confirmed the amorphous nature of all samples, while transmission electron microscopy revealed progressive nanoarchitectural refinement and particle growth with increasing Sm2O3 content, from uniformly dispersed nanodomains to dense agglomerates exhibiting short-range crystalline ordering. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and elemental mapping validated the homogeneous incorporation of boron, oxygen, tellurium, and samarium throughout the glass matrix without phase separation. Gamma-ray shielding evaluations showed enhanced mass attenuation coefficients and reduced half-value layers, particularly in the Sm(n)8 sample, with significant performance gains at lower photon energies. Neutron shielding assessments further indicated elevated macroscopic removal cross-section values and dose attenuation, affirming the compositional benefit of Sm2O3 for fast neutron mitigation. It can be concluded that nano-Sm2O3 incorporation would play a multifunctional role on structural and radioprotective properties in addition to morphostructural features of lithium borotellurite glasses.

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Kilic, G.; Ilik, E.; Kavaz, E.; Durmus, Hasan; Güler, Ömer; Birdogan, Selcuk; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates the incorporation of Pr6O11 nanoparticles into lithium borotellurite glass matrices to enhance their mechanical and radiation shielding properties. Glass compositions, synthesized with varying Pr6O11 concentrations from 0 to 8 mol%, exhibited increasing densities from 4.00783 g cm−3 to 4.94440 g cm−3 and reduced molar volumes, confirming nanoparticle-induced densification. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed amorphous structures with shifts in the hollow band indicating compact network rearrangements. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses confirmed homogeneous Pr distribution up to 6 mol%, with clustering observed in 8 mol% samples. Vickers’ microhardness values progressively increased, highlighting enhanced mechanical strength due to reduced non-bridging oxygen ions and network cross-linking. Gamma-ray shielding experiments demonstrated superior performance of the 8 mol% sample (Pr8), with the highest mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic number, and reduced half-value layer. Neutron attenuation assessments further confirmed improved shielding capabilities, with Pr8 achieving the highest effective removal cross-section. In conclusion, Pr6O11-doped lithium borotellurite glasses demonstrate significant potential for advanced radiation shielding applications.

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Güler, Ömer; Kilic, G.; Kavaz, E.; Ilik, E.; Guler, Seval Hale; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

Many oxide additives have historically been used to enhance the radiation shielding properties of glasses, yet the potential of high-entropy oxides (HEOs), which have gained popularity in material science for their unique properties, has not been explored in this context. This study is the first to investigate the radiation shielding capabilities of Zinc-Tellurite glass infused with High Entropy Oxide (HEO), specifically utilizing the novel attributes of a synthesized TiZrNbHfTa. In this study, the nuclear shielding properties of newly fabricated Zinc-Tellurite glasses doped with TiZrNbHfTaOx with a composition (25ZnO·75TeO2)100-x. (TiZrNbHfTaOx)x (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 mol%) were studied. Through the synthesis of a TiZrNbHfTa HEA and its integration into glass structure, we have developed a series of novel materials with enhanced protective properties against both gamma-ray and neutron radiation. Experimental results demonstrate that the HEO-infused glass, particularly the HEC1-4 composition, significantly surpasses traditional shielding materials in neutron attenuation, evidenced by its superior effective neutron removal cross-section. Additionally, the HEC1-4 glass demonstrates improved gamma-ray shielding capabilities, with increased mass attenuation coefficients and decreased half-value layers, indicating a higher capacity for photon interaction and absorption. It can be concluded that the incorporation of High Entropy Alloys into glass matrices not only opens a new frontier in radiation shielding materials but also provides a versatile and effective solution with considerable potential for enhancing safety measures in radiation-prone environments.

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Kilic, G.; Güler, Ömer; Kavaz, E.; Ilik, E.; Guler, Seval Hale; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

While numerous oxide additives have traditionally been employed to enhance the radiation shielding capabilities of glasses, the unique attributes of high-entropy oxides (HEOs), a group of materials acclaimed in contemporary material science for their distinctive properties have remained unexamined in this specific area. This novel study explores the enhancement of radiation shielding properties in zinc-tellurite glasses through the integration of TiNbWMoZrOx High Entropy Oxides (HEO). Utilizing advanced synthesis techniques, including mechanical alloying and oxidation, the research successfully incorporates HEOs into glass matrices, aiming to improve gamma-ray and neutron attenuation. Characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms the uniform distribution and structural integrity of the HEOs within the glasses. The synthesis of glass samples with a base structure suitable for the molar composition of 25ZnO.75TeO2 (mol%) and glass samples doped with TiNbWMoZrOx (HEO) was carried out using the traditional high-temperature melting and annealing method. The outcomes demonstrate a concentration-dependent increase in shielding efficacy, particularly highlighting the superior performance of glasses doped with 4 mol% of TiNbWMoZrOx (HEC2–4), which exhibit significantly enhanced mass attenuation coefficients, lower half-value layers, and higher effective atomic numbers. This indicates the effective role of HEOs in boosting radiation protection capabilities. Comparative analysis with traditional shielding materials showcases the HEC2–4 glasses' competitive advantage, underlining their potential as a versatile shielding solution. It can be concluded that incorporating TiNbWMoZrOx high entropy oxides into zinc-tellurite glasses significantly augments their radiation shielding properties, offering a novel approach for enhancing protection against gamma-ray and neutron in various applications.

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