Enhancing Radiation Shielding with Gadolinium(III) Oxide in Cerium(III) Fluoride-Doped Silica Borate Glass

Abstract

This study investigates the radiation shielding properties of glass samples within the xGd2O3-5SiO2-40Na2O-(54.5-x) B2O3:0.5CeF3 composition, where x varies from 0 to 10 mol.%, which is coded as GSNBCX (X = 1, 2, 3, and 4). The assessment is done through comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation and Phy-X/PSD software analyses. The primary objective of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the radiation shielding properties of glass compositions with varying Gd2O3 concentrations. This evaluation encompasses both the attenuation of gamma radiation within the broad energy range of 0.015 MeV to 15 MeV and the assessment of fast neutron removal cross sections, with a specific focus on simulations spanning energy levels from 0.5 to 10 MeV. By examining these parameters, we aim to elucidate the impact of Gd2O3 concentration on the material’s overall effectiveness in radiation shielding applications. The results reveal a significant variation in the mass attenuation coefficient (μm) across the investigated glass samples. For instance, μm values range from 3.244 to 0.019 cm2·g−1 for GSNBC1, 20.471 to 0.025 cm2·g−1 for GSNBC2, 27.245 to 0.027 cm2·g−1 for GSNBC3, and 32.223 to 0.029 cm2·g−1 for GSNBC4. Notably, GSNBC4, characterized by a substantial Gd2O3 concentration (10 mol.%), exhibits the highest values of both μm and linear attenuation coefficient (μ). Furthermore, the investigation delves into the fast neutron removal cross section (FNRCS), which displays values of 0.97, 0.95, 0.094, and 0.93 cm−1, respectively. GSNBC1, marked by its elevated B2O3 content (54.5 mol.%), showcases the highest FNRCS. These findings underscore the efficacy of Gd2O3-doped materials in shielding against gamma rays, holding promise for various applications in radiation protection, particularly in the medical and nuclear sectors. This study contributes valuable insights into developing effective radiation-blocking materials for diverse industrial and scientific contexts.