Apparent self-heating of individual upconverting nanoparticle thermometers

Andrea D. Pickel, Ayelet Teitelboim, Emory M. Chan, Nicholas J. Borys, P. James Schuck and Chris Dames ()
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Andrea D. Pickel: University of California
Ayelet Teitelboim: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Emory M. Chan: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Nicholas J. Borys: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
P. James Schuck: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Chris Dames: University of California

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Individual luminescent nanoparticles enable thermometry with sub-diffraction limited spatial resolution, but potential self-heating effects from high single-particle excitation intensities remain largely uninvestigated because thermal models predict negligible self-heating. Here, we report that the common “ratiometric” thermometry signal of individual NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanoparticles unexpectedly increases with excitation intensity, implying a temperature rise over 50 K if interpreted as thermal. Luminescence lifetime thermometry, which we demonstrate for the first time using individual NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanoparticles, indicates a similar temperature rise. To resolve this apparent contradiction between model and experiment, we systematically vary the nanoparticle’s thermal environment: the substrate thermal conductivity, nanoparticle-substrate contact resistance, and nanoparticle size. The apparent self-heating remains unchanged, demonstrating that this effect is an artifact, not a real temperature rise. Using rate equation modeling, we show that this artifact results from increased radiative and non-radiative relaxation from higher-lying Er3+ energy levels. This study has important implications for single-particle thermometry.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07361-0

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