Up-conversion luminescence lifetime thermometry based on the 1G4 state of Tm3+ modulated by cross relaxation processes

beta-PbF2:Tm3+/Yb3+ glass ceramics (GCs) with varied Tm3+ doped concentrations were synthesized by the conventional melting-quenching method and the subsequent glass crystallization route. For the first time, the lifetime-based thermometer based on up-conversion luminescence (UCL) originating from the (1)G(4) state excited upon a miniaturized 976 nm diode laser excitation in beta-PbF2:Tm3+/Yb3+ GCs is achieved. Furthermore, the thermosensitivity of the (1)G(4) state lifetime is realized by the phonon-assisted cross relaxation (CR) processes between Tm3+ which depopulate the (1)G(4) state and get severer with temperature. The relative sensitivity (S-R) of the (1)G(4) state lifetime is promoted by intensifying CR processes via raising Tm3+ concentration in this work. The maximum values of S-R of (1)G(4) state lifetime obtained in 0.0005Tm, 0.01Tm and 0.05Tm are 0.16%K-1, 0.26%K-1, and 0.46%K-1 at 488 K, respectively, which indicates the potential ability of Tm3+-doped nanoparticles to work as indicators for UCL lifetime-based thermometers.