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. 2022 Jun 4;12(11):1926.
doi: 10.3390/nano12111926.

Ratiometric Upconversion Temperature Sensor Based on Cellulose Fibers Modified with Yttrium Fluoride Nanoparticles

Małgorzata Skwierczyńska  1 , Natalia Stopikowska  1 , Piotr Kulpiński  2 , Magdalena Kłonowska  3 , Stefan Lis  1 , Marcin Runowski  1   4
Affiliations

Ratiometric Upconversion Temperature Sensor Based on Cellulose Fibers Modified with Yttrium Fluoride Nanoparticles

Małgorzata Skwierczyńska et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

In this study, an optical thermometer based on regenerated cellulose fibers modified with YF3: 20% Yb3+, 2% Er3+ nanoparticles was developed. The presented sensor was fabricated by introducing YF3 nanoparticles into cellulose fibers during their formation by the so-called Lyocell process using N-methylmorpholine N-oxide as a direct solvent of cellulose. Under near-infrared excitation, the applied nanoparticles exhibited thermosensitive upconversion emission, which originated from the thermally coupled levels of Er3+ ions. The combination of cellulose fibers with upconversion nanoparticles resulted in a flexible thermometer that is resistant to environmental and electromagnetic interferences and allows precise and repeatable temperature measurements in the range of 298-362 K. The obtained fibers were used to produce a fabric that was successfully applied to determine human skin temperature, demonstrating its application potential in the field of wearable health monitoring devices and providing a promising alternative to thermometers based on conductive materials that are sensitive to electromagnetic fields.

Keywords: lanthanide ions; multifunctional cellulose fibers; ratiometric temperature sensor; wearable sensor.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Scheme of the formation of the upconversion cellulose fibers; (b) powder XRD patterns of modifier NPs, and modified and unmodified cellulose fibers; (c) TEM image of YF3 NPs; inset shows size distribution of NPs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SEM-EDX analysis: (a) SEM images of the fibers surface and (b) cross-section; (c) EDX-mapping of yttrium, (d) fluoride, (e) ytterbium, and (f) erbium; inset presents the field of view.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Scheme of the energy level diagram of Yb3+ and Er3+, showing possible upconversion processes in the YF3: Yb3+, Er3+ system, (b) upconversion emission spectra of YF3-modified fibers, and (c) the corresponding chromaticity diagram; the inset shows photographs of a knitted fabric made of YF3-modified fibers in daylight (left) and under NIR (λex = 975 nm) laser irradiation (right).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Spectroscopic properties of YF3-modified fibers (λex=975 nm): (a) upconversion emission spectra measured as a function of temperature; (b) CIE diagram showing the emission color of YF3-modified fibers with increasing temperature values (left) and corresponding photographs of a knitted fabric made of YF3-modified fibers NIR excitation (right); (c) luminescence intensity ratios, corresponding to (d) the relative sensitivities Sr and (e) the temperature resolution ΔT.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Optical setup for temperature sensing based on a knitted fabric made of YF3-modified fibers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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