Upconversion photoluminescence and dual-mode temperature sensing properties of PIN-PMN-PT:Er3+ ceramic

Er3+ doped PIN-PMN-PT (PIN-PMN-PT:Er3+) ceramic was synthesized by two step columbite precursor method. The structure and morphology of products are characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is demonstrated that the ceramic has the perovskite structure and grain size in the range of 3 μm–5 μm. Under excitation of 980 nm diode laser, obvious green and red emission bands were detected. According to the power dependent upconversion emission and energy level diagram, the possible energy transfer process was proposed. The optical temperature sensing properties were studied based on fluorescence intensity ratios (FIRs) from thermal coupled energy levels (TCELs) 2H11/2,4S3/2 and thermal linked red emission stark sublevels 4F9/2(1), 4F9/2(2) of Er3+ ions. respectively. The absolute sensitivity reaches maximum value of 0.0035 K−1 at 360 K corresponding to TCELs and 0.0025 K−1 at 327 K corresponding to stark sublevels in the measurement temperature range. The incident near-infrared laser induced heating effects were investigated. It is found that the pump power induced heating effect can be neglected in the range of 110 mW–460 mW. These results demonstrated that PIN-PMN-PT:Er3+ ceramic is a potential material for application in optical temperature sensing and this research pave the way for further developing ceramic based dual-mode FIR thermometry technique. •Synthesis of Er3+ doped PIN-PMN-PT ceramic by columbite precursor method.•Observed visible upconversion emission of Er3+ doped PIN-PMN-PT ceramic under excitation of 980 nm diode laser.•Red emission band exhibits obvious dual stark splitting peaks.•Dual-mode temperature sensing based on fluorescence intensity ratio thermometry technique are achieved.•Laser induced thermal effects are discussed.