Optical Temperature Sensor Based on Infrared Excited Green Upconversion Emission in Hexagonal Phase NaLuF4:Yb3+/Er3+ Nanorods

Hexagonal phase NaLuF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanorods were synthesized hydrothermally. An analysis of the intense green upconversion emissions at 525 nm and 550 nm in hexagonal phase NaLuF4:Yb-3/Er-+(3+) nanorods under excitation power density of 4.2 W/cm(2) available from a diode laser emitting at 976 nm, have been undertaken. Fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) variation of temperature-sensitive green upconversion emissions at 525 nm and 550 nm in this material was recorded in the physiological range from 295 to 343 K. The maximum sensitivity derived from the FIR technique of the green upconversion emissions is approximately 0.0044 K-1. Experimental results implied that hexagonal phase NaLuF4:Yb-3/Er-+(3+) nanorods was a potential candidate for optical temperature sensor.