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Nd3+, Yb3+:YF3 Optical Temperature Nanosensors Operating in the Biological Windows
Maksim Pudovkin1, Ekaterina Oleynikova1, Airat Kiiamov1
1Institute of Physics, Kazan Federal University, 18th Kremlyovskaya Street, Kazan 420008, Russia.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 8, 2023
Summary
This study investigates Nd3+ and Yb3+ co-doped YF3 nanoparticles for thermometry. Combining phonon-assisted energy transfer and cross-relaxation significantly enhances temperature sensitivity, achieving 0.9%·K-1 at 80 K.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Thermometric performance of rare-earth doped nanoparticles is crucial for temperature sensing applications.
- Yttrium fluoride (YF3) nanoparticles doped with neodymium (Nd3+) and ytterbium (Yb3+) are explored for their thermometric potential.
- Understanding energy transfer mechanisms like phonon-assisted energy transfer (PAET) and cross-relaxation (CR) is key to optimizing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermometric properties of Nd3+ (0.1 or 0.5 mol.%), Yb3+ (X%):YF3 nanoparticles.
- To elucidate the role of different doping concentrations and energy transfer processes (PAET and CR) on temperature sensitivity.
- To determine the maximum achievable temperature sensitivity in these nanoparticle systems.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Nd3+ and Yb3+ co-doped YF3 nanoparticles.
- Spectroscopic analysis, including luminescence decay time (LDT) measurements of the 4F3/2 level of Nd3+.
- Temperature-dependent measurements to evaluate spectral shape sensitivity and luminescence decay dynamics.
Main Results:
- Luminescence decay time of Nd3+ in Nd3+ (0.5 mol.%):YF3 decreases with decreasing temperature, indicating cross-relaxation (CR).
- In contrast, luminescence decay time in Nd3+ (0.1 mol.%):YF3 remains constant, suggesting minimal CR.
- The presence of both CR and PAET in co-doped Nd3+ (0.5 mol.%), Yb3+ (X%):YF3 nanoparticles leads to higher temperature sensitivity compared to systems with only PAET.
Conclusions:
- Cross-relaxation (CR) between Nd3+ ions becomes significant at 0.5 mol.% concentration, enhancing temperature sensitivity.
- The synergistic effect of phonon-assisted energy transfer (PAET) and cross-relaxation (CR) in co-doped nanoparticles yields superior thermometric performance.
- A maximum relative temperature sensitivity of 0.9%·K-1 was achieved at 80 K, demonstrating the potential of these materials for advanced thermometry.
