A facile approach to the synthesis of Er3+–Yb3+–Mo6+ co-doped TiO2/Yb2Ti2O7 electrospun nanofibers and high thermal sensitivity

Er3+–Yb3+–Mo6+ co-doped TiO2/Yb2Ti2O7 up-conversion luminescent nanofibers have been successfully synthesized using the electrospinning technology followed by thermolysis. The effects of the precursor ratio and annealing process on up-conversion luminescent character were investigated. The phase of TiO2 was determined to be either anatase or rutile. And the cubic Yb2Ti2O7 in Er3+–Yb3+–Mo6+ co-doped TiO2 phosphor was confirmed. After annealing at high temperature, the up-conversion luminescent intensity of the studied system increased obviously. The fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) used to be made on the basis of green up-conversion emissions. It was studied as a function of temperature. The maximum rate of sensitivity was ~0.01 K−1 in the range of 300–600 K. The results indicate that Er3+–Yb3+–Mo6+ co-doped TiO2/Yb2Ti2O7 phosphor is a brand-new material that meets the requirement of the optical temperature sensing.