A study on temperature sensing performance based on the luminescence of Eu3+ and Er3+ co-doped YNbO4

Eu(3+)and Er(3+)co-doped YNbO(4)powder phosphors were synthesized by a traditional high-temperature solid-state reaction method. A laser of 487.6 nm wavelength was selected to be the excitation source which can pump Eu(3+)ions from its thermally populated low-lying(7)F(2)ground state to the excited state(5)D(2)and lift the Er(3+)ions from their(4)I(15/2)to(4)F(7/2)states. Fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) between the(5)D(0)->(7)F(J)emissions of Eu(3+)and(4)S(3/2)->(4)I(15/2)emissions of Er(3+)ions is remarkably dependent on temperature because of the dramatic increase of Eu(3+)luminescence against a slight quenching of Er(3+)luminescence with the rise of temperature. This temperature sensitive FIR can be favorably employed for temperature sensing, owing to this novel scheme of(5)D(2)excitation, instead of(5)D(0), from(7)F(2)and utilizing Er(3+)luminescence as a reference for FIR measurements. This sample is also prominent for its excellent signal-to-noise ratio and is a promising candidate for an optical temperature sensor.