Lanthanide-doped bismuth-based nanophosphors for ratiometric upconversion optical thermometry

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Optical Physics

Background:

• Nanothermometry enables precise temperature detection at the nanoscale but faces limitations due to complex synthesis and low sensitivity.
• Existing nanothermometers often require intricate preparation methods, hindering widespread application.
• There is a need for efficient, noninvasive, and easily synthesized nanothermometers for various scientific and technological fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel bismuth-based upconversion nanomaterial with a fast and facile preparation strategy for nanothermometry.
• To enhance the temperature sensitivity and luminescence intensity of the upconversion nanomaterial.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of using this material for ratiometric optical temperature measurements.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized bismuth-based upconversion luminophores using a rapid co-precipitation method (within 1 minute).
• Optimized the doping concentrations of ytterbium (Yb) sensitizer and erbium (Er) activator ions.
• Adjusted the synthetic solvent strategy to improve nanomaterial crystallinity and luminescence intensity.

Main Results:

• Achieved a fast and facile synthesis of bismuth-based upconversion nanomaterials.
• Enhanced crystallinity and significantly improved upconversion luminescence intensity through optimization.
• Demonstrated ratiometric upconversion optical temperature measurements in the range of 278 K to 358 K using thermally sensitive Er ion emission peaks.

Conclusions:

• The developed bismuth-based upconversion nanomaterial offers a promising platform for efficient and noninvasive nanothermometry.
• The rapid synthesis method provides a feasible strategy for constructing novel fluorescent temperature probes.
• This work contributes to advancing nanoscale temperature sensing technologies with improved performance and accessibility.