Temperature sensor based on the Er3+ green upconverted emission in a fluorotellurite glass

The temperature dependence of the green upconverted emission from the two thermally coupled 2H11/2 and 4S3/2 levels of the Er3+ ion in a fluorotellurite glass has been analyzed as a function of the optically active ion concentration in order to check its availability as a temperature sensor. The infrared-to-green upconverted emission have been observed by the naked eyes after a cw laser diode excitation at 800 nm. The fluorescence intensity ratio between the thermally coupled emitting levels as well as the temperature sensitivity has been experimentally obtained up to 540 K. A better behaviour as a temperature sensor has been obtained for the less Er3+ concentrated glass with a maximum sensitivity of 54 × 10−4 K−1 at 540 K, one of the highest found in rare-earth doped transparent materials.