Synthesis, optical, chemical and electrical characterizations of ?-irradiated transition metal ions reinforced borate glasses

Co2+/ Ni2+/ Fe3+ borate glasses were prepared by melting-annealing procedure and extensively characterized towards gamma irradiation (up to 8 kGy). UV-visible spectra revealed Co2+ (3d7) in octahedral and tetrahedral coordinations, while Ni2+ (3d8) and Fe2+ (3d6) favored the octahedral coordination. Optical energy gap (Eopt) appeared dependent on glass density in a direct relation. ESR spectra revealed values of g// -2.01 and g -2.025 correlated to the transition metal (TM) ion valence state. Chemical durability in H2O, HCl, and NaOH revealed good behavior from 15 to 35 days. Trigonal BO3 units appeared more extensive than tetrahedral BO4 on FTIR spectra after irradiation. AC conductivity, dielectric constants and dielectric loss revealed rising with incorporating TM ions and irradiation. TM ions provide the glasses stable behavior to irradiation because of their flexible configuration to heal radiation defects affording the possible use of glasses as radiation shielding ma-terials (up to 5 kGy).