Luminescence and optical thermometry based on silico-carnotite Ca3Y2Si3O12: Pr3+ phosphor

The photoluminescence and temperature sensitivities of Ca3Y2Si3O12:Pr3+ thermo-phosphors with silico-carnotite structure obtained by solid state reaction method were investigated. Pr3+ ions were accommodated in the A sites having coordination number of 9 in AB2C2(SiO4)3 to replace Y3+ ions. The typical sample consisted of microcrystals with an irregular structure and the surface of particles was smooth, which could enhance the luminescence due to reducing the scattering and non-radiation produced by rough surfaces. The band gap value of typical sample was about 4.01 eV. Dipole-dipole interaction could account for concentration quenching. The two thermometry strategies including normalized intensities from 3P0→3H4 transition and Fluorescence intensity ration (FIR) of 3P0→3H4/3P1→3H5 transitions were employed for temperature sensing in 298–573 K. The results revealed that Ca3Y2Si3O12:Pr3+ thermo-phosphors had good temperature sensitivity performance with maximum Sr of 0.59% K−1@573 K and 0.762% K−1@298 K in the above two methods, respectively. Hence, Ca3Y2Si3O12:Pr3+ would be a promising candidate in the field of optical thermometry.