Nd3+-doped YVO4 nanoparticles for luminescence nanothermometry in the first and second biological windows

In this work we report on neodymium doped yttrium vanadate colloidal nanoparticles as high resolution luminescent nanothermometers operating in near-infrared spectral range. Upon excitation at 808 nm relative intensities of Stark sublevels of F-4(3/2)-I-4(3/2) and F-4(3/2)-I-4(11/2) transitions demonstrate temperature dependence allowing for ratiometric luminescence nanothermometry in the I and II biological windows, respectively. The thermal sensitivities of both transitions have been successfully calculated in the biological temperature range. Penetration depth of luminescence signal has been also experimentally defined. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.