Petersburg scientists have created a non-contact thermometer for open space
Scientists of St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU) have created a non-contact thermometer based on neodymium – a metal used to create filters for magnets, photo lenses and other devices. The development can measure ultra-low temperatures down to -253 °C in outer space and other extreme conditions. The results of the research, supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RNF), were published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry S.
As explained at St. Petersburg State University, it is often very difficult or impossible to measure the temperature by the contact method: in a processor chip, a certain organ inside the body, a volcano vent or interstellar space. In such cases, non-contact thermometry is used using phosphors – materials that absorb light and emit their own glow. The characteristics of luminous particles directly depend on the state of the environment, which allows it to be accurately measured. However, this method is ineffective at extremely low temperatures.
St. Petersburg researchers solved the problem by proposing to use oxide nanoparticles activated by neodymium ions. Specialists created a composition of isopropyl alcohol and powder with nanoparticles, and then applied this suspension to the control object. When the alcohol evaporated, an oxide layer remained on the surface of the object. When irradiated with invisible infrared light, the particles began to glow in the infrared range, which made it possible to determine the temperature.
According to scientists, the technology can be used for research in the field of low-temperature superconductors and open space. To do this, it is necessary to pre-treat the necessary parts with a phosphor composition.
In the future, scientists intend to bring the range of measurements to the temperature of liquid helium, which is -268 °C.