Sensitive optical temperature sensor based on up-conversion luminescence spectra of Er3+ ions in PbO-Ga2O3-XO2 (X = Ge, Si) glasses

Up-conversion luminescence spectra of Er3+ ions in PbO-Ga2O3-GeO2 and PbO-Ga2O3-SiO2 glasses have been examined as a function of temperature in the 298-650 K range. The relative emission intensities of green bands corresponding to H-2(11/2) -> I-4(15/2) and S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) transitions of Er3+ were determined with temperature. Based on up-conversion luminescence spectra of Er3+, the fluorescence intensity ratio and temperature sensitivity for glasses based on PbO-Ga2O3-XO2 (X= Ge, Si) were calculated. The maximum sensitivity is equal to 20.4 x 10(-4) K-1 at T = 620 K (X = Ge) and 26.4 x 10(-4) K-1 at T = 590 K (X = Si) suggesting potential application in optical sensor thermometry. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.