Er3+/Yb3+ codoped Gd2O3 nano-phosphor for optical thermometry

Combustion synthesized Gd2O3: Er3+/Yb3+ nanocrystalline phosphor has been developed and used as a temperature sensor. Frequency upconverted emissions from two thermally coupled excited states 2H11/2 and 4S3/2 of Er3+ centered at 523 and 548 nm in the phosphor pumped by NIR source were recorded in the temperature range 300–900 K. The maximum sensitivity derived from the FIR technique of the green upconversion emission is approximately 0.0039 K−1. The results imply that Er3+/Yb3+ codoped Gd2O3 phosphor can play an important role in high temperature measurements with a better sensitivity.