With funding from the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, Zhao Shilong's team at China Jiliang University conducted in-depth research on rare-earth-doped oxygen-fluorine microcrystalline glass optical fibers for temperature sensors. The project was officially completed in April of this year, yielding a series of innovative results.
Rare earth elements, playing a vital role in various fields such as military, metallurgy, petrochemicals, and glass ceramics, are defined as "strategic materials" by most countries. Researchers have conducted extensive studies in recent years on how to effectively utilize rare earth elements and continuously expand their applications. With funding from the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation, Zhao Shilong's team at China Jiliang University conducted in-depth research on rare earth-doped oxygen-fluorine microcrystalline glass optical fibers for temperature sensors. The project was officially completed in April of this year, yielding a series of innovative results.
Zhao Shilong explained that various temperature sensors have been invented, such as traditional thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), and radiation thermometers, but most of these sensors can only be used in traditional applications. As the application scope of temperature measurement continues to expand, innovation, research, and development in temperature detection are ongoing. Conventional temperature sensors can no longer meet the requirements of many fields, especially in high-tech areas.
"Compared to traditional temperature sensors, fiber optic temperature sensors have advantages such as high reliability, good insulation, resistance to electromagnetic interference, good repeatability, fast response speed, and low price, making them one of the important directions for the research and development of new temperature sensors," said Zhao Shilong. He added that they are particularly suitable for temperature measurement in harsh environments, such as high current, high magnetic field, flammable and explosive, and corrosive environments, and have high research value and broad application prospects.
In Zhao Shilong's team's project, the research team used fluorescence fiber optic temperature sensors to detect the luminescence of certain metal ions, especially rare earth ions, in different matrices. By establishing the relationship between the fluorescence parameters of metal ions in the matrix and temperature, they were able to obtain the temperature characteristics of the substance being measured.
"Through the design and optimization of the composition and process of oxyfluoride microcrystalline glass, highly transparent rare-earth-doped oxyfluoride microcrystalline glass was obtained, and the influence of glass composition on temperature sensing sensitivity, such as glass network structure and physicochemical properties, was systematically analyzed," said Zhao Shilong. He added that the rare-earth-doped oxyfluoride microcrystalline glass fiber matrix material developed in this project can provide a scientific basis and technological reserve for the development of special optical fibers with independent intellectual property rights and the development of high-precision fiber optic temperature sensors. The project has resulted in the publication of 13 SCI papers, including 5 in top journals, 3 authorized national patents, and the training of 5 graduate students. During the project, Zhao Shilong was selected as a leading young and middle-aged academic figure in Zhejiang Province and received the title of Outstanding Teacher of Zhejiang Province in 2018.
