Sensitive optical temperature sensor based on up-conversion luminescence spectra of Er3+ ions in PbO–Ga2O3–XO2 (X = Ge, Si) glasses

Abstract

Up-conversion luminescence spectra of Er3+ ions in PbO–Ga2O3–GeO2 and PbO–Ga2O3–SiO2 glasses have been examined as a function of temperature in the 298–650K range. The relative emission intensities of green bands corresponding to 2H11/2→4I15/2 and 4S3/2→4I15/2 transitions of Er3+ were determined with temperature. Based on up-conversion luminescence spectra of Er3+, the fluorescence intensity ratio and temperature sensitivity for glasses based on PbO–Ga2O3–XO2 (X=Ge, Si) were calculated. The maximum sensitivity is equal to 20.4×10−4K−1 at T=620K (X=Ge) and 26.4×10−4K−1 at T=590K (X=Si) suggesting potential application in optical sensor thermometry.