Highly sensitive optical temperature sensing based on pump-power-dependent upconversion luminescence in LiZnPO4:Yb3+-Er3+/Ho3+ phosphors

Eco-friendly optical sensor for precise detection of gold ions in diverse matrices through the integration of β-2-hydroxybenzyl-3-methoxy-2-hydroxyazastyrene in a PVC membrane

An environmentally conscious methodology is investigated for the precise and discerning identification of trace concentrations of gold ions in diverse matrices. A novel optical sensor membrane is proposed for the determination of Au3+ ions, utilizing the immobilization of β-2-hydroxybenzyl-3-methoxy-2-hydroxyazastyrene (HMHS) entrapped in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The sensor incorporates sodium tetraphenylborate (Na-TPB) as the ionic additive and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a plasticizer. Under optimal conditions, the suggested sensor exhibits a linear calibration response to Au3+ ions within a concentration range of 5.0 to 165 ng mL-1. Detection and quantification limits are specified as 1.5 and 4.8 ng mL-1, respectively, with a rapid response time of 5.0 min. Upon presentation, this optical sensor not only affirms high reproducibility, stability, and an extended operational lifespan but also showcases exceptional selectivity for Au3+ ions. Notably, no discernible interference is observed when assessing the potential influence of other cations and anions on Au3+ ion detection. The adaptability of this optical sensor is validated through its successful application in determining Au3+ ion concentrations across various sample types, including water, environmental, cosmetics, and soil matrices.

The highly selective green colorimetric detection of yttrium ions in biological and environmental samples using the synergistic effect in an optical sensor

A new eco-friendly method for creating an optical sensor membrane specifically designed to detect yttrium ions (Y3+) has been developed. The proposed sensor membrane is fabricated by integrating 4-(2-arsonophenylazo) salicylic acid (APASA), sodium tetraphenylborate (Na-TPB), and tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) into a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) matrix with dimethyl sebacate (DMS) as the plasticizer. In this sensor membrane, APASA functions dually as an ionophore and a chromoionophore, while TOPO enhances the complexation of Y3+ ions with APASA. The composition of the sensor membrane has been meticulously optimized to achieve peak performance. The current membrane exhibits a linear dynamic range for Y3+ ions from 8.0 × 10-9 to 2.3 × 10-5 M, with detection and quantification limits of 2.3 × 10-9 and 7.7 × 10-9 M, respectively. No interference from other potentially interfering cations and anions was observed in the determination of Y3+. The membrane showed strong stability and a swift response time of about 3.0 minutes, with no signs of APASA leaching. This sensor is highly selective for Y3+ ions and can be renewed by treating it with 0.15 M HNO3. It has been effectively applied to measure Y3+ in nickel-based alloys, as well as in biological and environmental samples.

Optimizing optical thermometry with tri-doped Ba2GdV3O11 phosphors: Ratiometric and fluorescence lifetime analysis

Optical sensor technology has undergone a transformative evolution with the advent of fluorescence ratio techniques (FIR) and fluorescence lifetime (FL) strategies, revolutionizing precision, performance, and reliability. This study delves into the synthesis of Ba2GdV3O11 phosphors doped with Ho3+/Nd3+, Er3+, and Yb3+, employing the sol-gel method for upconverting material fabrication. A thorough investigation into the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized phosphors is conducted. Excitation at 980 nm unveils upconversion (UC) emissions across green and red spectra. The intensities of the observed emission bands for Ho3+, Nd3+, and Er3+ demonstrate significant sensitivity to fluctuations in temperature. Temperature sensing relies on the 4S3/2 and 2H11/2 upconversion emissions bands, in addition to the emission lifetimes at 4S3/2. Enhanced thermal sensitivity values are attained, reaching up to 1.03 % K-1 and 1.07 % K-1 using the FIR strategy, and up to 0.146 % K-1 and 0.47 % K-1 with the FL strategy for Ho3+/Er3+/Yb3+ and Nd3+/Er3+/Yb3+ tri-doped Ba2GdV3O11 phosphors, respectively. Furthermore, the studied phosphors exhibit remarkable precision in detecting minute temperature changes (0.3 K), positioning them as promising candidates for precise temperature sensing. This study pioneers innovative methodologies to advance optical thermometry techniques, offering promising prospects for scientific and industrial applications reliant on precise optical temperature sensing.

Multifunctional Optical Sensing with Lanthanide-Doped Upconverting Nanomaterials: Improving Detection Performance of Temperature and Pressure in the Visible and NIR Ranges

Temperature and pressure are fundamental physical parameters in the field of materials science, making their monitoring of utmost significance for scientists and engineers. Here, the NaSrY(MoO4)3:0.02Er3+/0.01Tm3+/0.15Yb3+ nanophosphor is developed as an optical sensor material. Under 975 nm laser excitation, the upconversion characteristics and optical detection performance of the multifunctional sensing platform of temperature and pressure (vacuum) are investigated. We have successfully developed a novel detection platform that enables optical detection of pressure (vacuum) and temperature. This platform utilizes thermally coupled levels (TCLs) and non-TCLs of Er3+ and Tm3+ to achieve ratiometric detection. The multimodal optical temperature and pressure detection based on TCLs and non-TCLs is successfully realized by using different emission bands of double emission centers, which makes it possible for self-referencing optical temperature and pressure measurement modes. These results indicate that the developed nanophosphor is a promising candidate for optical sensors, and our findings suggest potential strategies for modulating the sensor properties of luminescent materials doped with rare-earth ions.

Large enhancement of red upconversion luminescence in beta Ba2Sc0.67Yb0.3Er0.03AlO5 phosphor via Mn2+ ions doping for thermometry

Here, this study reports single-band red upconversion emission in β-Ba2ScAlO5: Yb3+/Er3+ phosphor by doping Mn2+. The optimum concentration of Mn2+ ions in β-Ba2ScAlO5: Yb3+/Er3+ phosphor was 0.20. The intensity of red and green emissions is increased by 27.4 and 19.3 times, respectively. Compared with the samples without Mn2+ ions, the red-green integral strength ratio of β-Ba2ScAlO5: Yb3+/Er3+/Mn2+ sample was significantly increased by 28.4 times, reaching 110.9. The UCL mechanism was explored by analyzing the down-conversion luminescence spectra, absorption spectra, UCL spectra, and upconversion fluorescence lifetime decay curves of Yb3+/Er3+/Mn2+ co-doped β-Ba2ScAlO5. The enhancement of upconversion red light is achieved through energy transfer between defect bands and Er3+ ions, as well as energy transfer between Mn2+ ions and Er3+ ions. In addition, the Mn2+ doped β-Ba2ScAlO5: Yb3+/Er3+ red UCL phosphors have great potential for ambient temperature sensing in the 298-523 K temperature range. The maximum sensitivity of β-Ba2ScAlO5: Yb3+/Er3+/Mn2+ phosphor as a temperature sensor at 523 K is 0.0247 K-1.

Optical Temperature-Sensing Performance of La2Ce2O7:Ho3+ Yb3+ Powders

In this paper, La2Ce2O7 powders co-activated by Ho3+ and Yb3+ were synthesized by a high temperature solid-state reaction. Both Ho3+ and Yb3+ substitute the La3+ sites in the La2Ce2O7 lattice, where the Ho3+ concentration is 0.5 at.% and the Yb3+ concentration varies in the range of 10~18% at.%. Pumped by a 980 nm laser, the up-conversion (UC) green emission peak at 547 nm and the red emission at 661 nm were detected. When the doping concentration of Ho3+ and Yb3+ are 0.5 at.% and 14% at.%, respectively, the UC emission reaches the strongest intensity. The temperature-sensing performance of La2Ce2O7:Ho3+ with Yb3+ was studied in the temperature range of 303-483 K, where the highest relative sensitivity (Sr) is 0.0129 K-1 at 483 K. The results show that the powder La2Ce2O7:Ho3+, Yb3+ can be a potential candidate for remote temperature sensors.

The dual-model up/down-conversion green luminescence of NaSrGd(MoO4)3: Er3+ and its application for temperature sensing

Er3+-doped phosphors are widely used as dual-functional optical thermometers due to their distinctive up/down-conversion luminescence and the thermally coupled energy states (2H11/2 and 4S3/2) of Er3+. The development of high-performance Er3+-activated optical thermometers is both an intriguing subject and a formidable challenge in the field. This article investigates the up/down-conversion (UC and DC) photoluminescence properties of NaSrGd(MoO4)3 (NSGM): Er3+. When excited at 375 and 975 nm, the phosphors emit peaks at 530, 550, and 657 nm, corresponding to the 2H11/2, 4S3/2, and 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions of Er3+, with the 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 transition displaying the highest intensity. The optical properties are comprehensively studied through UV-visible absorption, PL spectroscopy, and PLE spectroscopy. Optimal luminescence intensity is achieved at an Er3+ concentration of 4% mol. The resulting chromatic coordinates (x, y) and high correlated color temperature (CCT) values of the doped phosphors yield thermally stable cold emissions in the green region, boasting color purities of approximately 98.76% and 80.74% for DC and UC conversion, respectively. The optical temperature sensing properties of thermally coupled energetic states are explored based on the fluorescence intensity ratio principle. NSGM: 0.04Er3+, under 375 nm light excitation, demonstrates the maximum relative sensitivity of 0.87%/K-1 at 298.15 K, spanning a wide temperature range from 298.15 to 488.15 K. Conversely, under 975 nm light excitation, NSGM: 0.04Er3+ exhibits the maximum relative sensitivity of 0.63%/K-1 over the same temperature range, with temperature uncertainty (δT) less than 0.50 K and repeatability (R) (more than 98%). These findings position this material as a promising candidate for optical thermometer applications. The optical heating capacity of the synthesised phosphor is also determined using optical thermometry results, and heat generation up to approximately 457 K is found, indicating that NSGM: 0.04Er3+ could be useful for photo-thermal therapy.

Dual-mode optical ratiometric thermometry using Pr3+-doped NaSrGd(MoO4)3 phosphors with tunable sensitivity

Owing to some special superior features, luminescence ratiometric thermometry has acquired popularity, particularly dual excitation single emission (SBR) and single excitation dual emission (FIR). Nonetheless, it remains difficult to create ratiometric thermometry that can operate in multiple modes. The integration of FIR and SBR techniques paves the way for advancements in various fields, including industrial processes, environmental monitoring, and biomedical applications, where accurate temperature measurements are crucial for optimal performance and safety. In this work, we describe a way to measure temperature based on the light-induced fluorescence of Pr3+ in NaSrGd(MoO4)3 (NSGM). The optical properties were investigated by UV-visible absorption, PL, and PLE spectroscopy. On the one hand, the emission of Pr3+ exhibits varying temperature-dependent behavior upon 450 nm excitation. Thus, a thermometer based on the FIR between the Pr3+ levels has been generated, with the highest sensitivity of approximately 0.83% K-1 over a wide temperature range of 290-440 K. Furthermore, the SBR luminescent thermometer was evaluated in the same temperature range. The effect of the Pr3+ concentration on red-emitting SBR luminescent thermometers was investigated in detail. The Sa and Sr values gradually increase, with the Pr3+ content reaching a maximum Sr value of 2.4% K-1 at 413 K for the NSGM:10% Pr3+ phosphor. These results show that Pr3+ ions have the potential to be optically active centers for luminescent thermometer applications using FIR and SBR techniques. It is anticipated that the present work will inspire other researchers to employ multi-mode optical ratiometric thermometry more widely.

A novel optical temperature sensor and energy transfer properties based on Tb3+/Sm3+ codoped SrY2(MoO4)4 phosphors

A series of SrY2(MoO4)4 phosphors doped and co-doped with Tb3+/Sm3+ ions was synthesized to develop new optical temperature sensor materials. The structures, morphologies, and luminescent characteristics of these phosphors were thoroughly investigated. Luminescence spectra of mono-doped SrY2(MoO4)4 phosphors were measured under the excitation at 375 and 403 nm corresponding to direct excitation of Tb3+ and Sm3+, respectively. The characteristic luminescence bands corresponding to electronic transitions of terbium and samarium ions were detected and investigated for different dopant concentrations. The emission spectrum of the Tb3+/Sm3+ co-doped sample exhibited a total of five distinct emission peaks, indicating an energy transfer from Tb3+ to Sm3+ ions. The energy transfer efficiency from Tb3+ ions to Sm3+ ions was investigated in detail. At elevated temperatures, Tb3+ and Sm3+ exhibited distinct thermal sensitivities in their emission and excitation spectra, leading to evident thermochromic behavior. The fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) was utilized with dual center to evaluate the temperature sensitivity of SrY2(MoO4)4:Tb3+/Sm3+ phosphors. The temperature sensing mechanism relied on the emission band intensity ratios of the 4G5/2 → 6H5/2, 4G5/2 → 6H9/2, and 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transitions of Sm3+ in conjunction with the 5D5/2 → 7F5/2 transitions of Tb3+. This approach demonstrated high thermal sensitivity values, reaching up to 0.9% K-1. The studied nanoparticles exhibited sub-degree thermal resolution, making them suitable candidates for precise temperature-sensing applications.

Construction of an optical sensor for copper determination in environmental, food, and biological samples based on the covalently immobilized 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-3-hydroxyphenol in agarose

An optical chemical sensor has been developed for the quantitative spectrophotometric analysis of copper. The optode is dependent on covalent immobilization of 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-3-hydroxyphenol (BTAHP) in a transparent agarose membrane. The absorbance variation of immobilized BTAHP on agarose as a film upon the addition of 5 × 10-3 M aqueous solutions of Mn2+, Zn2+, Hg2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, La3+, Fe3+, Cr3+, Zr4+, Se4+, Th4+, and UO22+ revealed substantially higher changes in the Cu2+ ion content compared to other ions investigated here. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as the solution pH, the reaction time, and the concentration of reagents, on the quality of Cu2+ sensing were examined. Under ideal experimental circumstances, a linear response was achieved for Cu2+ concentrations ranging from 1.0 × 10-9 to 7.5 × 10-6 M with an R2 value of 0.9988. The detection (3σ) and quantification (10σ) limits of the procedure for Cu2+ analyses were 3.0 × 10-10 and 9.8 × 10-10 M, respectively. No observable interference was recorded in the detection of Cu2+ due to other inorganic cations. With no indication of BTAHP leaching, the membrane demonstrated good durability and quick response times. The optode was effectively used to determine the presence of Cu2+ in environmental water, food, and biological samples.

Enhancing the temperature sensing property of a Ca0.79-xBixEr0.01Yb0.2MoO4 phosphor via local symmetry distortion and reduction in non-radiative channels

We demonstrate an enhancement in the upconversion (UC) emission and temperature sensing property of a CaMoO4:Er/Yb phosphor via distortion of the local symmetry environments and reduction in no-radiative channels. Bi3+ ion co-doping creates a local distortion while the average tetragonal structure of CaMoO4 remains intact. This creates asymmetry around the Er3+ ions which improves the UC emission. Furthermore, our calculations on XRD data show a reduction in the dislocation density and the micro-strain in the crystal with the introduction of Bi3+, which also favours the enhancement of UC emission as it reduces the non-radiative channels. Furthermore, the effect of this enhancement on the temperature sensing property of Er3+ ion has also been revealed. Our results show that the UC emission is enhanced about 25 times for Bi3+ co-doped samples which improves the temperature sensitivity significantly. The samples, both with and without Bi3+ co-doping, exhibited relative sensitivities of 0.0068 K-1 at 300 K and 0.0057 K-1 at 298 K which is a significant improvement and indicates the potential of the material for temperature sensing applications. This proof-of-concept provides a deeper understanding of the effect of Bi3+ doping on UC emission and opens new avenues for the development of high-performance temperature sensing materials.

A novel optical thermometry strategy based on emission of Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped Na3GdV2O8 phosphors

In the last few years, huge progress has been made in the development of remote optical thermometry strategies, due to their non-contact, high-sensitivity and fast measurement characteristics, which are especially important for various industrial and bio-applications. For these purposes, lanthanide-doped particles seem to be the most promising luminescence thermometers. In this study, Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺:Na₃GdV₂O₈ (NGVO) phosphors were prepared using a sol-gel method. Under 980 nm excitation, the upconversion (UC) and down-shifting (DS) emission spectra are composed of two visible emission bands arising from the Tm³⁺ transitions ¹G₄ → ³H₆ (475 nm) and ¹G₄ → ³F₄ (651 nm), a strong emission at 800 nm (³H₄ → ³H₆) in the first biological window and emission in the third biological window at 1625 nm (³F₄ → ³H₆), respectively. Accordingly, the luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) between the Tm³⁺ LIR₁ (800/475) and LIR₂ (1625/475) transitions demonstrates excellent relative sensing sensitivity values (4.2% K^-1-2% K^-1) and low-temperature uncertainties (0.4 K-0.5 K) over a wide temperature sensing range of 300 K to 565 K, which are remarkably better than those of many other luminescence thermometers. This phosphor exhibits strong NIR emission at low excitation density, meaning that it has potential uses in deep tissue imaging, optical signal amplification and other fields. The results indicate that Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺:NGVO is an ideal candidate for thermometers and particularly for biological applications.

Tailoring of upconversion luminescence of Al3+engineered titanate phosphor for non-invasive thermometry

The ability of rare-earth-doped ferroelectric oxides to achieve outstanding upconversion (UC) performances under NIR irradiation despite possessing intrinsic electric properties drives researchers all over the globe to work in this field. The structural and spectroscopic characteristics of the Bi4Ti3O12 phosphor integrated with Er3+, Yb3+, and Al3+ have been thoroughly investigated in this study. The considerable increase in UC emission ~three times caused by the addition of Al3+ ions has been observed and discussed. The processes connected with the UC emission related to the pump power variation have been realized using the rate law equation. Aside from having high sensitivity of 0.011 K-1 at room temperature, the prepared phosphor possesses excellent thermal stability, i.e., it retains ~ 73% of its initial intensity with the addition of Al3+ ions.

Synthesis and optical spectroscopy of Na3Y(VO4)2:Eu3+ phosphors for thermometry and display applications

A new Na3Y(VO4)2:Eu3+ (NYVO:Eu3+) phosphor was prepared using the sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate phase purity and particle size, respectively. The optical properties were investigated by UV-visible absorption, PL, and PLE spectroscopies. The absorption measurements show the formation of the vanadate host by the presence of its characteristic band in the visible region related to VO4 3- groups. The experimental results show that the NYVO:Eu3+ phosphors exhibit high-brightness and thermally stable emission. Under near-ultraviolet (UV) excitation, both the broadband emission from VO4 3- groups and the sharp peak emissions from Eu3+ ions are observed. The highest luminescence intensity was achieved for an optimal europium concentration of 15 mol%. The study of the chromaticity parameters of these compounds gives a thermally stable hot emission in the red domain, with a color purity of about 85%, which qualifies the NYVO:Eu3+ compound as a potential phosphor for light-emitting diode (LED) applications. Thermal sensing using NYVO:Eu3+ phosphors are based on monitoring the luminescence intensity ratio between the NYVO host emission and Eu3+ luminescence lines. Notably, the optical thermometry of NYVO:Eu3+ was characterized based on the fluorescence intensity ratio of VO4 3- and Eu3+ emissions in the 298-440 K range, with maximum absolute and relative sensitivities of 3.4% K-1 and 0.0032 K-1 respectively and a temperature uncertainty of 0.01. NYVO:Eu3+ can then be considered as a potential red phosphor for application in ultraviolet-pumped white light-emitting diodes and as a potential optical thermometer. It provides new possibilities for the design of multifunctional materials for red light-emitting diodes and for non-contact thermometry.

A novel sensor for the selective monitoring of trace ytterbium ions using an agarose-based optical membrane

A novel highly selective sensitive optical sensor was prepared via the chemical immobilization of β-2-hydroxybenzyl-5-bromo-2-hydroxyazastyrene (HBBHAS) on an epoxy-activated agarose membrane pieces. The absorbance variation of the immobilized azastyrene film on agarose upon the addition of 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ M aqueous solutions of La³⁺, Y³⁺, Al³⁺, Sc³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Lu³⁺, Fe³⁺, Ce³⁺, Cr³⁺, S₂O₃²⁻, Tb³⁺, Mn²⁺ and KIO₃ revealed substantially higher changes for the Yb³⁺ ion compared to the other considered ions. Thus, using HBBHAS as an appropriate ionophore, a selective optical sensor for Yb³⁺ was prepared via its chemical immobilization on a transparent agarose membrane. The effects of pH, reagent concentration, and time duration of the reaction of immobilizing the reagent were examined. A distinct change in the maximum absorbance of the reagent was established on contact of the sensing membrane with Yb³⁺ ions at pH = 4.25. For the membrane sensor, a linear relationship was observed between the variation in membrane absorbance (ΔA) at 424 nm and Yb³⁺ concentrations in the range of 4.75 × 10⁻⁵ to 6.20 × 10⁻¹⁰ M with a detection limit of 1.9 × 10⁻¹⁰ M for Yb³⁺. The effects of some potentially interfering ions on the assessment of Yb³⁺ were analyzed, and no substantial interference was found. The sensor showed a short response time and decent durability with no reagent leaching. The recovery of Yb³⁺ ions from the sensor material was performed using 0.3 M HNO₃ and its response was reversible and reproducible with RSD ≥ 1.95%. This study reports a non-toxic, economical, stable, accurate, easy-to-use, and novel optical sensor material to assess Yb³⁺ in synthetic and environmental water samples.

The immobilized optical sensor preparation and its measurement procedure.

Frequency upconversion based thermally stable molybdate phosphors in temperature sensing probe

Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped NaGd(MoO4)2 phosphors with different concentrations of Er3+ and Yb3+ ions have been successfully synthesized via a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. Phase confirmation and morphological studies have been done...