Strong sensitivity enhancement in lifetime-based luminescence thermometry by co-doping of SrTiO:Mn nanocrystals with trivalent lanthanide ions

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. C, Materials for optical and electronic devices Vol. 9; no. 32; pp. 139 - 1316
• Main Authors: Piotrowski, W. M, Trejgis, K, Dramicanin, M, Marciniak, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 19.08.2021
• ISSN: 2050-7526; 2050-7534
• DOI: 10.1039/d1tc02814f

The co-doping of SrTiO 3 :Mn 4+ luminescent nanocrystals with trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln 3+ = Lu 3+ , Tm 3+ , Er 3+ , Ho 3+ , Dy 3+ , Eu 3+ , and La 3+ ) is demonstrated as a new strategy for significant sensitivity improvement of lifetime-based luminescent thermometers. SrTiO 3 :Mn 4+ :Ln 3+ nanocrystals of about 25 nm diameter were prepared by the modified Pechini method and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopy techniques. The temperature dependence of Mn 4+ emission in SrTiO 3 was considerably altered by the co-doping of Ln 3+ due to the cooperating effects of Mn 4+ → Ti 3+ and Mn 4+ → Ln 3+ energy transfers. A substantial enhancement of the relative sensitivity of lifetime-based thermometry as high as 145% with respect to the unco-doped nanocrystals reveals the success of the approach. The obtained values of maximal relative sensitivity for different Ln 3+ co-dopants are 5.10% K −1 at 290 K for Er 3+ , 5.00% K −1 at 301 K for Eu 3+ , 4.84% K −1 at 303 K for Dy 3+ , 4.71% K −1 at 289 K for Ho 3+ , and 3.87% K −1 at 290.7 K for Lu 3+ . The co-doping of SrTiO 3 :Mn 4+ luminescent nanocrystals with trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln 3+ = Lu 3+ , Tm 3+ , Er 3+ , Ho 3+ , Dy 3+ , Eu 3+ , and La 3+ ) is demonstrated as a new strategy for significant sensitivity improvement of lifetime-based luminescent thermometers.