The effect of temperature on green and red upconversion emissions of LiYF4:20Yb(3+), 1Ho(3+) and its application for temperature sensing

Optical thermometry is a non-contact temperature detective technique that has high sensitivity and rapid response. In present work, we developed LiYF4:20Yb(3+), 1Ho(3+) (mol%) micro octahedrons obtained by a modified hydrothermal method. The temperature dependent up-conversion (UC) emission and luminescence decays for LiYF4:20Yb(3+), 1Ho(3+) under 976 nm LD excitation with various power density were studied systematically in the temperature range from 100 K to 500 K. The green and red UC emissions are sensitive to the sample temperature whereas the excitation power density in the studied temperature ranges plays a negligible role on the red to green UC emissions ratio. The non-contact optical temperature sensing behaviors were investigated based on the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) of red (R3 + R4) and green (G3) at temperature from 100 K to 500 K, which are ascribed to non-thermally coupled levels of Ho3+:F-5(5) and F-5(4), respectively. The maximum absolute sensitivity (S-a) of 0.0477 K-1 and maximum relative sensitivity (S-r) of 0.0129 K-1 at the temperature range of 100-500 K based on FIR of (R3 + R4)/G3 were found. The mechanism of temperature effect on UC emission was discussed. The heating and cooling cycle test indicates the high thermal stability of LiYF4:20Yb(3+), 1Ho(3+). These results imply the LiYF4:20Yb, 1Ho has potential application in ratiometric thermometers and temperature sensing devices. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, LiYF4:20Yb(3+), 1Ho(3+) micro octahedrons were prepared by a modified hydrothermal method, and their temperature-dependent properties were systematically investigated. The results showed that the material exhibited high absolute and relative temperature sensitivity, indicating potential applications in ratiometric thermometers and temperature sensing devices.