Advanced Methods of Semiconductor Research Seminar – Tuesday 20th of January 2026
We cordially invite you to Advanced Methods of Semiconductor Research Seminar on Tuesday 20th of January 2026 at 13:15 in room 321, building A-1, where there will be delivered a lecture:
Highly-sensitive upconverting nanothermometers
by Dr. Magdalena Święs
from Department of Experimental Physics, Wrocław Tech
The lecture abstract is attached below.
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Lecture abstract:
The great demand for the invention of highly-sensitive, precise and non-invasive nanothermometers have arisen over a decade ago, due to the fast development of nanotechnology and biomedicine. So far, various luminescent nanothermometers have been invented, nevertheless, there are still some challenges to overcome. Therefore, lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles have gained much attention, due to their biological compatibility and unique optical properties, such as e.g. temperature-sensitive and long-lifetime luminescence, sharp emission lines, negligible auto-fluorescence. Thus, they are highly promissing for phototherapies of critical diseases, real-time temperature measurement in electronics, catalytic reactions, as well as in lithium-ion batteries for overheating prevention.
This study reports the synthesis of monodisperse upconverting nanoparticles based on a neutral sodium yttrium fluoride matrix doped with ytterbium and erbium ions, which are excellent candidates for single-nanoparticle nanothermometry. Their revealed enhanced sensitivity, superb photostability, lack of self-heating, a wide operating temperature range and the absence of photoblinking. The luminescent properties of such uniform nanoparticles were tailored by introducing non-ionic surfactant, resulting in improved stabilization against aggregation. Furthermore, we have developed a method for precise ratiometric temperature measurement using upconverting nanoparticles, along with a reliable approach for distinguishing between single and aggregated particles.
