Abstract
In this study, xLiNbO3- 25 wt% CaO-35 wt% PbO-(40-x) waste glasses (where x = 8, 16, 20, 24, and 32 wt%) were synthesized using the traditional solid-state method. The formed glasses were post annealed at 623 K, thereafter, exposed to 10, and 40 kGy doses using gamma-radiation source. The optical characteristics of the glasses were investigated with optical transmittance spectra. The structural investigations utilized X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to obtain the structural characteristics, while hardness was measured via a Vickers hardness tester. Annealing xLiNbO3-25CaO-35PbO-(40-x) waste glasses at 623 K forms crystalline glass-ceramics and their structural parameters are not affected by either radiation dose or composition. The studied glasses are highly transparent at wavelengths greater than 350 nm. The optical bandgaps for direct and indirect allowed transitions were evaluated. The optical bandgap, Urbach energy, thermal emissivity, surface resistance, refractive index, and susceptibility are affected by the LiNbO3/waste ratios and the gamma-radiation dose. The Vickers hardness is influenced by glass composition and radiation dose, with the estimated values varying between 353 and 396 kg/nm2. Changes in the LiNbO3/waste ratio and the radiation dose can improve the optoelectronic properties of xLiNbO3-25CaO-35PbO-(40-x) waste, allowing this to be applied as an optical material for various technologies.