XPS analysis, structural, physical and radiation shielding performance of innovative lead-free boro-tellurite glasses: A comprehensive experimental study

Three glass samples were fabricated using the melt quench method to explore glass stability and radiation shielding properties. The current glasses are named CdTeB, ZnTeB, and SrTeB. The experimental shielding properties were performed for the current glasses with energy ranging from 0.184 to 0.810 MeV. Meanwhile, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to explore glass stability and the chemical states of different elements. The relative difference between theoretical and experimental radiation shielding properties results is less than 7.5 %, indicating high compatibility between the two results. The CdTeB sample showed the highest shielding properties. For example, the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values at 0.184 MeV are 0.492, 0.585, and 0.609 cm²/g for SrTeB, ZnTeB, and CdTeB samples. According to the XPS analysis of O 1s spectra, the ZnTeB sample contained the highest bridging oxygen (BO), followed by CdTeB and then SrTeB. Conversely, the SrTeB sample showed the highest nonbridging oxygen (NBO), indicating reduced glass stability. The XPS results are compatible with physical and structural properties. Based on the acquired results, the fabricated samples are valid for medical radiation shielding.