Optical nanoheater based on the Yb^3+-Er^3+ co-doped nanoparticles

Yb(3+)-Er(3+) co-doped fluoride nanoparticles have been prepared. When pumped by 975 nm laser diode into absorption band of Yb(3+), the laser-induced temperature rise up to 800 degrees C has been detected in the nanoparticles by measuring the ratio of the intensities of the thermalised up-conversion luminescence bands (2)H(11/2)-->(4)I(15/2) and (4)S(3/2)-->(4)I(15/2) of Er(3+). These results show that a controlled optical heating of the nanoparticles and their surrounding nano-volumes can be realised, while the location and temperature rise of the nanoparticles and heated nano-volumes can be detected distantly by means of luminescence.