Near-infrared luminescent Nd3+-doped zirconate transparent ceramics for efficient photothermal feedback window

Deploying a robust temperature feedback window is crucial for understanding thermally induced reactions in nuclear environments. However, existing photothermal windows suitable for radiation conditions largely function in the visible light range, which compromises the repeatability and uncertainty of temperature sensing. To address this, an efficient photothermal feedback window using near-infrared luminescent Nd³⁺ doped Y₂Zr₂O₇ (YZO) highly transparent ceramics is developed. Studies on the effects of Nd³⁺ doping on the luminescence and lifetime of YZO:Nd ceramics revealed that the high-concentration luminescence quenching mechanism is re-absorption and dipole-quadrupole interaction. The developed YZO:Nd ceramic photothermal window exhibits acceptable sensitivity (0.108% K⁻¹), high repeatability (>99.2%), and low temperature uncertainty (δT_min = 0.92 K). The paradigm demonstrated here provides a reference for creating high-performance photothermal windows for use in extreme radiation environments.