Luminescent thermometry based on Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped yttrium niobate with high NIR emission and NIR-to-visible upconversion quantum yields

Author(s)

Borges, Fernanda Hediger ; Martins, Joana Costa ; Caixeta, Fabio Jose ; Carlos, Luis D. ; Ferreira, Rute A. S. ; Goncalves, Rogeria Rocha

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Luminescence; v. 248, p. 10-pg., 2022-08-01.

Abstract

The growing demand aiming non-invasive diagnosis techniques applications has become an emerging field for developing more efficient bioprobes working in the near infrared (NIR) biological windows. In this work, we propose Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped yttrium niobate as a multifunctional material synthesized via sol-gel method. We study its NIR emission under UV excitation (down-shifting) and NIR-to-visible upconversion (UC) emission and exploit this material as a luminescent thermometer. X-ray diffraction analysis points out the formation of cubic Y3NbO7 crystalline phase after annealing at 1100 degrees C. Intense and narrow 1.5 mu m emission (FWHM ~24 nm) with Er3+ 4I13/2 lifetime value of ca. 5.5 ms are observed under excitation in the host absorption band (276 nm), due to down-shifting process. Down-shifting and upconversion quantum yields (QY) with excitation at 980 nm were reported for the first time for Y3NbO7 material with values of ca. 18% and ca. 0.0020% in the NIR and visible ranges, respectively. Y3NbO7 is a luminescent primary thermometer with maximum relative thermal sensitivity of 1.31 +/- 0.06% K-1, temperature uncertainty of 0.31 K, and repeatability of 99.6%. Furthermore, the relatively high QY values in NIR and UC emission, comparable to fluorides and higher than other oxides, make Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped yttrium niobate an interesting multifunctional probe aiming for biological applications. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/11301-2 - Rare earth doped micro and nanostructures luminescent materials: properties and applications
• Grantee: Rogéria Rocha Gonçalves
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/05319-9 - Multifunctional plataforms based on lanthanide doped nanostructured luminescent materials for potential photonic and theranostic applications
• Grantee: Rogéria Rocha Gonçalves
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/00277-6 - Development of nanoparticulate materials of lanthanide-doped rare earth tantalates for applications in Photonics
• Grantee: Fernanda Hediger Borges Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/10424-3 - Luminescent rare earth tantalate and niobate: synthesis, properties and applications in photonics
• Grantee: Fernanda Hediger Borges Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 18/04587-0 - Yttrium Tantalates and Niobates rare earth ions doped with emission in the visible and near infrared region for photonics applications
• Grantee: Fernanda Hediger Borges Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree