An examination of the radiation-induced defects and thermoluminescence characteristics of Sm₂O₃ doped BaO–ZnO–LiF–B₂O₃ glass system for γ-dosimetry application

10BaO–20ZnO–20LiF-(50-x)B₂O₃-xSm₂O₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mol %) glasses were synthesized with an objective to examine the γ-radiation-induced defects and Thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics towards potential TL dosimetry application. The addition of 0.1 mol % Sm₂O₃ to the host glass led to a drastic enhancement (almost two thousand times) in the TL intensity and concentration quenching was seen thereafter. The Sm₂O₃ concentration and γ-dose for the examination of defects and TL features were optimized to be 0.1 mol % and 3 kGy, respectively. The lack of distinct peaks in the X-Ray Diffraction pattern confirmed the glass amorphous nature. The structural modification after irradiation was conveyed in the optical absorption spectroscopy by the presence of color centers and in Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy by the increase in the Non-Bridging Oxygens. The color centers were identified as Non-Bridging Oxygen Hole Center and Boron E’-center from the Electron Spin Resonance characterization. The glass manifested a good linear TL response between 0.25 and 3 kGy, high sensitivity, a minimum detection dose of 2±0.2 Gy, reusability and reproducibility after annealing at 523 K for 15 min, Z_eff of 9.6, and trap activation energies between 0.47 and 1.28 eV. The application of the titled glass system as a potential TL dosimeter is proposed for food irradiation, and γ-environment (up to 3 kGy).