Multimodal self-calibrating photothermal window utilizing transparent Pr3+–Er3+ co-doped Y2Zr2O7 ceramics

Abstract

In response to the urgent demand for windows with multi-mode self-calibrated temperature feedback operating over a wide range in extreme environments, herein, Pr³⁺–Er³⁺ co-doped Y₂Zr₂O₇ (YZO) transparent ceramics were developed. After annealing treatment to remove defects, these ceramics exhibit high transparency and temperature-dependent wide-range photoluminescence, in which the in-line transmittance is up to 77.8% at 760 nm (theoretical limit is 78%), and the luminescence band spans blue to red. Furthermore, based on the luminescence intensity ratio technology, a multi-mode temperature sensing window using highly transparent YZO:Pr/Er ceramics was designed. The developed photothermal window shows relatively high sensitivity, in which absolute sensitivity (S_a) and relative sensitivity (S_r) reached 0.0105 K⁻¹ at 363 K and 1.295% K⁻¹ at 301 K, respectively. The developed thermometer could provide a reference for self-calibrated thermometer window, and its wide spectral operating range ensures the reliability of temperature measurement, which has the potential to be used in some extreme conditions.