Synthesis of spherical CeO2:Eu3+ particles with enhanced sensor sensitivity for luminescence-based thermometry applications
Journal
Spectrochimica Acta - Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy
Journal Volume
359
Start Page
127938
ISSN
13861425
Date Issued
2026-10-15
Author(s)
Abstract
A hydrothermal approach was used in this study to prepare cerium dioxide phosphors doped by Eu3+ ions. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used as a chelating agent to synthesize the spherical particles of Ce1-xEuxO2-δ. Small Ce1-xEuxO2-δ spherical particles were observed in the samples synthesized at EDTA/Ce3+ molar ratio of 3: 1. The luminous efficiency of Ce1-xEuxO2-δ phosphors was adjusted by varying the concentration of Eu3+ ions. The highest photoluminescence (PL) efficiency was obtained at the Eu3+ content of 7 mol%. Ce1-xEuxO2-δ phosphors have photoluminescence emission spectra that include simultaneously the emissions (450–575 nm) from the host matrix as well as rare-earth ion emissions (590–700 nm). As the emission strength of the CeO2 matrix and rare-earth ions varies with temperature, temperature-dependent emission spectra were observed in the range of 298–453 K. The variation in the fluorescence intensity ratio between the host and dopant emissions with temperature increase was used to evaluate the temperature-sensing performance of the Ce0.93Eu0.07O2-δ phosphor. The absolute sensitivity of Ce0.93Eu0.07O2-δ phosphors increased from 0.008 to 0.014 K−1 as the temperature increased from 298 to 378 K and then dropped. Ce0.93Eu0.07O2-δ phosphors showed a high relative sensitivity of 3.8% K−1 at 298 K. According to obtained results based on high values of temperature sensitivity, minimal temperature uncertainty of 0.46 K at 378 K, negligible hysteresis loop, and excellent reversibility, Ce0.93Eu0.07O2-δ phosphors are suitable for use in luminescence-based thermometry.
Subjects
CeO2
Luminescence
Spherical particles
Thermometry
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article