Estimate of the effect of adding CoCl ₂ in different amounts on the structural, optical properties, and the radiation shielding ability of arsenic borate glasses containing Na⁺, Ca⁺⁺, and Pb⁺⁺ cations

In the present study, the inorganic compound CoCl₂, which is composed of two large halogen atoms, Cl, and one heavy metal atom, Co, has been added in different amounts, {0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 1.5 g}, to the raw components of arsenic-borate glass containing Na⁺, Ca⁺⁺, and Pb⁺⁺ cations. X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to examine the glass samples that were prepared by rapid quenching of the molten in the air at room temperature. The Co-free sample as well as the Co-doped samples showed an amorphous glass’ networks containing different structural units (BO₃, BO₄, ASO₄, and PbO₄). The increase in CoCl₂ content caused BO₃ units to convert to BO₄ units and vanish the pbO₄ units gradually. The values of the bulk density, Urbach’s energy, linear refractive index, absorption index, linear attenuation coefficient, and optical reflectance all increased as CoCl₂ content increased. While, on the other side, the values of the optical band gaps, the half-value layer, and the optical transmittance all decreased as Co-content increased. Co-rich sample may be suitable for gamma shielding purposes as well as opto-electronic devices like reflection sensors or glasses that block light.