Development of novel fiber‐optic temperature sensor using SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ nanophosphor ceramics

Abstract

This is one of the very few reports that describe the thermal stability of daylight excitable SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ (SRA) nanophosphor for devising fiber-optic temperature sensor along with structural, morphological and detailed photoluminescence (PL) studies. The SRA nanophosphor was found to be stable in the atmosphere and thermal conditions up to 70 °C without any noticeable degradation. However, thermoluminescence glow curve exhibit a broad peak centered at ~ 75 °C after 5 min irradiation using D65 lamp. The trap-depth and frequency factor of SRA nanophosphors have been estimated using initial-rise method. The estimated trap depths were found to be in the range 0.26 eV and 0.38 eV, indicating the presence of shallow traps. The afterglow luminescence of SRA nanophosphor decreased with an increase in temperature up to 210 °C. A fiber-optic temperature sensor arrangement was conceived using the properties of temperature dependent afterglow intensity of SRA nanophosphor, where thermal excitation of trapped carriers played an effective role. With this, one can estimate that SRA nanophosphor is potentially useful for fiber-optic temperature sensor because of its highly sensitive sensor-head.