Temperature Sensing Based on Thermal Population of Low-Lying 7F Levels of Trivalent Europium ions in GdVO4

Abstract

Temperature sensing performance of GdVO 4 : Eu 3+ phosphors have been studied using a method based on thermal coupling of the low-lying levels ( 7 F J : J = 0, 1, 2) of Eu 3+ . GdVO 4 : Eu 3+ phosphors exhibit the outstanding luminescence characteristics with temperature and high detection sensitivity. Luminescence intensity ratio has been investigated between the 5 D 0 → 7 F 4 emission intensities when 5 D 0 excited from thermally populated low-lying excited states 7 F 1 and 7 F 2 with respect to 7 F 0 level. The luminescence intensity ratio monotonously increases with rising of temperature from 133 K to physiological temperature of 313 K. Specifically, the maximum value of relative sensitivity S R reach to 6.73% K −1 for first scheme and 2.87% K −1 for second scheme. The GdVO 4 :Eu 3+ phosphor shows the excellent relative sensitivity of 1.23% K −1 in physiological temperature range (310 K), recommending its potential for applications in bio-medical field. • Temperature sensing via thermal coupling of the low-lying levels ( 7 F J : J = 0, 1, 2) of Eu 3+ . • GdVO 4 :Eu 3+ phosphors were prepared through high temperature solid state method. • The maximum value of relative sensitivity S R reach to 6.73 % K -1 for first scheme. • Excellent relative sensitivity of 1.23 % K -1 in physiological temperature range (310 K).