Transparent Sr0.84Lu0.16F2.16: Yb3+, Er3+ glass ceramics: Elaboration, structure, up-conversion properties and applications

The development of optical temperature sensors is of fundamental and industrial importance for various applications. Despite the great advance in optical temperature-sensing techniques, challenges remain to search for novel sensing materials with low cost, easy fabrication and high sensitivity. Here, transparent glass ceramics (GC) embedded with cubic Sr0.84Lu0.16F2.16:Yb3+/Er3+ nano-crystals were prepared via thermal annealing on the parent glass. The optical and structural properties were investigated. The enhanced emission intensity, obvious Stark splitting and prolonged lifetimes of Er3+ confirm the enrichment of Er3+ ions into formed Sr0.84Lu0.16F2.16 nano-crystals. The temperature sensing performance of Yb3+/Er3+ ions in Sr0.84Lu0.16F2.16GC were investigated based on up-conversion intensity ratio (FIR) from thermally coupled emitting states of Er3+. High energy difference (ΔE = 839 cm−1) and high absolute sensitivity (27.4 × 10−4 K−1 at 606 K) are obtained. Our results reveal Sr0.84Lu0.16F2.16GC are excellent host for rare earth ions doping and potential candidate for optical thermometry.