Gamma ray interaction with bismuth silicate glasses

UV–visible, infrared and Raman spectroscopy together with thermal properties were measured for glasses from the system Bi2O3 · SiO2 with varying Bi2O3 content. The spectroscopic properties were also measured after gamma irradiation. The experimental results indicate that UV–visible spectra reveal intense charge transfer ultraviolet bands which seem to originate from trace iron impurities from the raw materials and the possible sharing of Bi3+ ions. The studied glasses show resistant to gamma irradiation on all the measured spectra. Infrared and Raman spectra reveal characteristic bands suggesting that Bi2O3 takes part in the formation of the glass network. The thermal properties and density values indicate that the measured data are related to heavy metal cation (Bi3+) and its large polarizability in oxide glasses.