A biological nano-thermometer based on ratiometric luminescent Er3+/Yb3+-codoped NaGd(WO4)2 nanocrystals.

We report a nano-thermometer based on ratiometric method of green 530 and 550 nm luminescence of Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -codoped NaGd(WO 4 ) 2 nanocrystals for temperature sensing of biological tissues and cells. The thermometer has simple structure and displays excellent sensing performance with a relative sensitivity 1.2% K −1 , a thermal resolution 0.5 K at the physiological temperature 310 K, and a large signal-to-noise ratio. In parallel, the luminescence temperature characteristics were also studied by a spectrometer, and consistent results were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]