Linking microstructural modifications of Ho2O3-doped borotellurite glasses to the enhancement of critical properties: Synthesis, structural, physical, and experimental Gamma-Ray and neutron transmissioncharacteristics

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.