Critical evaluation of the thermometric performance of ratiometric luminescence thermometers based on Ba3(VO4)2:Mn5+,Nd3+ for deep-tissue thermal imaging

Near-infrared (NIR) luminescence thermometry has been brought to the fore as a reliable approach for remote thermal sensing and imaging. Lanthanide (Ln(3+))-based nanophosphors are often proposed as NIR nanothermometers of choice. However, the combination of Ln(3+) with transition metal (TM) ions has recently emerged as a strategy to introduce additional emission bands and/or TM <-> Ln(3+) energy transfer pathways whose temperature dependence can be harnessed to increase the sensitivity of the thermometric approach. Yet, the examples of the combination of luminescence nanothermometers working in the NIR and hosting simultaneously TM and Ln(3+) are scarce, leaving plenty of space for the exploration of these systems. Herein, we report on the preparation and optimization of the thermometric performance of Ba-3(VO4)(2):Mn5+,Nd3+ nanophosphors. The different temperature dependences of the emission intensity of the two doped luminescent centers allow using the ratio between Mn5+ and Nd3+ as a reliable thermometric parameter with a relative thermal sensitivity of 1% K-1 close to room temperature. We then showcase the suitability of this nanophosphor for employment in 2D NIR luminescence thermal imaging. Lastly, we critically evaluate the possibility of using this thermal imaging approach through opaque media with the help of phantoms with tissue-like optical properties. As expected, a loss of reliability of the thermometric method is observed due to tissue-induced photon scattering and absorption that differentially affect the emission of Mn5+ and Nd3+. Overall, the reported results underscore the good performance of the newly developed nanothermometer, while consolidating the call for the use of luminescence nanothermometers working in the time-domain (rather than in the spectral domain) for deep-tissue thermal readout/imaging.

Automated summary

Near-infrared (NIR) luminescence thermometry is a reliable method for remote thermal sensing and imaging. Lanthanide (Ln(3+))-based nanophosphors are commonly used as NIR nanothermometers, but the combination of Ln(3+) with transition metal (TM) ions can enhance the sensitivity of the thermometric approach. However, there are few examples of luminescence nanothermometers combining both TM and Ln(3+), leaving room for further exploration of these systems.