Multiple ratiometric nanothermometry using semiconductor BiFeO3 nanowires and quantitative validation of thermal sensitivity

Abstract

Here, we report a very sensitive, non-contact, ratio-metric, and robust luminescence-based temperature sensing using a combination of conventional photoluminescence (PL) and negative thermal quenching (NTQ) mechanisms of semiconductor BiFeO 3 (BFO) nanowires. Using this approach, we have demonstrated the absolute thermal sensitivity of ~ 10 mK −1 over the 300–438 K temperature range and the relative sensitivity of 0.75% K −1 at 300 K. Further, we have validated thermal sensitivity of BFO nanowires quantitatively using linear regression and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and found close match with the experimental results. These results indicated that BFO nanowires are excellent candidates for developing high‐performance luminescence-based temperature sensors. Graphical abstract