High performance silica micro-tube optical temperature sensor based on β-NaLuF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ nanocrystals

Rare earth co-doped nanocrystals of beta-NaLuF4: Yb3+/Tm3+ with a uniform morphology and hexagonal structure were synthesized by a solvothermal route. The structure of the synthesized material was investigated with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope techniques. The micro-tube structure including rare earth nanocrystals was achieved by drawing the SiO2 capillary under the flame. The fluorescence intensity ratio of non-thermal coupling levels of D-1(2) -> F-3(4) and (1)G(4) -> H-3(6) were studied as a function of temperature around the range of 300-550 K The maximum sensitivity was estimated to be 0.0047 K-1 at 525 K. These results indicated that the device may have great potential applications in optical temperature sensor. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.