Luminescence thermometry via the two-dopant intensity ratio of Y2O3: Er3+, Eu3+

In this work we investigated the photoluminescence properties of Y2O3: Er3+, Eu3+ as a function of temperature and the possibility to use this material as a temperature sensor. Photoluminescence emission measurements with 532 nm laser excitation were recorded in the temperature range from 303 up to 573 K. The measured intensity ratio of erbium S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/ 2) and europium D-5(0) -> F-7(2) emission lines was used for determination of the temperature calibration curve. These emission lines are intense, narrow and well defined. The distance between the lines, being 47 nm, can be easily measured even with a low-resolution spectrometer. The calculated relative sensitivity of the temperature sensor was 1.4% K-1 at 303 K, in the physiological temperature range, meaning that it could be successfully applied in biological studies.