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Title: Luminescence Thermometry Based on Time Gates: Highly Sensitive Approach for Real-Time Sensing and Imaging

Authors: M. Szymczak, D. Szymański, M. Piasecki, M. Brik, L. Marciniak

Journal: J. Phys. Chem. Lett

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.5c01265

Although luminescence thermometry based on the analysis of luminescence kinetics is widely regarded as the technique with the highest precision of temperature determination and low sensitivity to external influences, its implementation in thermal imaging imposes the need for separate measurements of luminescence decay curves in the imaging area under consideration. Consequently, the procedure is extremely time-consuming. In response to this limitation, Prof. Marciniak's group, together with colleagues from Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, proposed in their latest publication a technique using the ratio of luminescence intensities recorded in two time gates. Studies conducted on Ba2LaNbO6:1%Mn4+ and Ca2LaNbO6:1%Mn4+ have shown that this approach provides not only a significantly higher relative sensitivity (17.1% K-1 for Ba2LaNbO6:1%Mn4+) compared to the conventional technique analyzing the excited level lifetime (4.2% K-1) but also the possibility to optimize the thermal operating range of such a thermometer by changing the length of the time gates. This approach makes it possible to extend the thermal operating range at the expense of relative sensitivity, providing versatility in tailoring the thermometer to specific applications.

This work was funded by the NCN Opus project UMO-2023/49/B/ST5/03384.