Sr₅(PO₄)₃Cl:Mn⁵⁺ solar-powered luminescent thermometer with the potential for lunar soil temperature measurement

Scientific research and measurements conducted on the Moon are significantly constrained by electricity shortages. Consequently, the development of low-power or even zero-power devices and sensors has become an urgent priority. Our research has revealed that the Sr₅(PO₄)₃Cl:Mn⁵⁺ phosphor exhibits a distinct property: it can absorb sunlight and emit near-infrared (NIR) light. When Sr₅(PO₄)₃Cl:Mn⁵⁺ is used as a solar-powered luminescent thermometer (SPLT), it eliminates reliance on any energy sources other than sunlight; by contrast, traditional luminescent thermometers require excitation via electricity-driven light sources. This unique characteristic endows it with significant advantages for applications in electricity-scarce environments. Additionally, the SPLT with remote sensing capabilities is expected to solve the challenge of directly observing lunar soil temperature from Earth when combined with ground-based observation.