Structural, elastic, optical and radiation shielding properties of (79-x)B₂O₃-xTeO₂-20Li₂O-0.5Ho₂O₃-0.5Yb₂O₃ glasses

A mixed glass former (MGF) system refers to a glass network consists of two or more different glass-forming oxides, commonly including B₂O₃ (borate), TeO₂ (tellurite), P2O5 (phosphate), or SiO₂ (silicate). These glasses exhibit nonlinear and non-additive variations in their properties when the ratio of different glass formers is adjusted while maintaining a constant modifier composition, a phenomenon known as the mixed glass former effect (MGFE). A recent trend in MGF research is the use of MGFE to enhance optical, mechanical, elastic, thermal, structural, and shielding properties for advanced applications. In this study, a series of mixed glass formers (MGF) with compositions (79-x)B₂O₃-xTeO₂-20Li₂O-0.5Ho₂O₃-0.5Yb₂O₃ (x = 0 - 50 mol%) were synthesized via melt-quenching.