GdVO4:Er3+/Yb3+ nanocrystalline powder as fluorescence temperature sensor. Application to monitor the temperature of an electrical component

Abstract

The temperature sensing properties of an Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped GdVO4 nanocrystalline powder were studied. The down-conversion emission spectrum of the sample was observed under excitation at 457 nm. Two methods were used to calibrate the temperature of the sample: one based on the Fluorescence Intensity Ratio (FIR) technique and the other using the fluorescence lifetime of the thermally-coupled energy levels of Er3+. The relative sensitivities for each method were calculated and it was found out that the FIR-based temperature sensor has higher sensitivity (1.17% K−1) than the lifetime-based sensor (0.24% K−1). Furthermore, a temperature uncertainty of 0.37 K was obtained for the FIR-based sensor. The GdVO4 nanoparticles were also used to study the change in temperature of an electrical component when it is operating and not. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.