Simulation-Based Radiation Shielding and Optical Properties of Thulium-Doped Bismuth Tellurite Glass

• Published in: Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences
• Main Author: Rusni N.A.M.; Amat A.; Yusoff W.Y.W.; Abdul-Manaff N.A.; Ahmad N.; Laoding H.; Segawa H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Semarak Ilmu Publishing 2025
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85215787318&doi=10.37934%2farfmts.125.1.112126&partnerID=40&md5=e058cd8452a2667b9995f629a2d48767

Lead-based radiation shielding material is currently used in industry to shield against high-penetration radiation such as gamma rays. However, lead is harmful to humans, animals, and plants. This study proposed a new composition of transparent lead-free glass. Using the melt and quench technique, thulium-doped bismuth tellurite glass with composition (TeO2)1-x (Bi2O3)x (Tm2O3)0.02 where x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 mol % was fabricated. Significantly, the glasses with Bi2O3 concentration of 5 mol % and 10 mol% have a higher density than the commercial glass containing lead indicating the fabricated glasses would perform better as a radiation shielding material. Comparing the simulated-radiation shielding properties using software Phy-X and XCom, the glass with 10 mol% of Bi2O3 performs better as radiation shielding material than 5 mol% of Bi2O3. Meanwhile, glass with 5 mol% of Bi2O3 performs better than 10 mol% of Bi2O3 in terms of optical properties. Considering both radiation shielding and optical properties, the fabricated lead-free glass can be widely used in radiation shielding applications that require transparency. © 2025, Semarak Ilmu Publishing. All rights reserved.