Spectroscopic studies of preparation conditions role on the shielding properties of MoO3-doped Na2O–ZnO–P2O5

Glassy samples from the undoped ternary system Na2O–ZnO–P2O5 in combination with other samples from the same system doped with variable amounts of MoO3 (0.25, 0.5, or 1 gm/batch) were successfully melted under ordinary, oxidizing, or reducing conditions followed by annealing. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometric measurements in combination with optical absorption spectra were recorded before and after doping with variable concentrations of MoO3 in multiple melting media both as prepared or after being subjected to (8 Mrad) gamma irradiation dose. The studied spectral properties of the glasses were correlated with variations with the existing valence state of the Mo ions and the effects of gamma irradiation on the optical spectra and IR vibrational bands together with the role of the condition of melting the batches. The optical spectra of the glasses reveal pronounced UV and visible bands due to trace iron (Fe3+) ions as impurities or the sharing of the low valence states of the added molybdenum ions. The FTIR peaks show condensed spectra of phosphate groups (Q2, Q3), and the effects of dopant are limited because of low percent. Gamma irradiation causes distinct variations in the undoped spectra, but the MoO3-doped glasses show some shielding behavior.