First-ever fusion of high entropy alloy (HEA) with glass: Enhancing of critical properties of zinc-tellurite glass through TiZrNbHfTaOx incorporation

Many oxide additives have historically been used to enhance the radiation shielding properties of glasses, yet the potential of high-entropy oxides (HEOs), which have gained popularity in material science for their unique properties, has not been explored in this context. This study is the first to investigate the radiation shielding capabilities of Zinc-Tellurite glass infused with High Entropy Oxide (HEO), specifically utilizing the novel attributes of a synthesized TiZrNbHfTa. In this study, the nuclear shielding properties of newly fabricated Zinc-Tellurite glasses doped with TiZrNbHfTaOx with a composition (25ZnO·75TeO2)100-x. (TiZrNbHfTaOx)x (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 mol%) were studied. Through the synthesis of a TiZrNbHfTa HEA and its integration into glass structure, we have developed a series of novel materials with enhanced protective properties against both gamma-ray and neutron radiation. Experimental results demonstrate that the HEO-infused glass, particularly the HEC1-4 composition, significantly surpasses traditional shielding materials in neutron attenuation, evidenced by its superior effective neutron removal cross-section. Additionally, the HEC1-4 glass demonstrates improved gamma-ray shielding capabilities, with increased mass attenuation coefficients and decreased half-value layers, indicating a higher capacity for photon interaction and absorption. It can be concluded that the incorporation of High Entropy Alloys into glass matrices not only opens a new frontier in radiation shielding materials but also provides a versatile and effective solution with considerable potential for enhancing safety measures in radiation-prone environments.