Bi3+ and Tb3+ Co-doped Cs2AgInCl6 Lead-free double perovskite nanocrystals for detection of temperature and copper ions

The content of Cu2+ in lubricating oil and lubricant temperature are important indicators predicting mechanical failure. Therefore, developing a nontoxic fluorescence probe is necessary to detect Cu2+ and temperature in lubricating oil. The lead-free inorganic double perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) Cs2AgInCl6 are potential candidates. However, the low fluorescence intensity and the high excitation energy required of Cs2AgInCl6 NCs limit their practical applications. In this study, Bi3+ and Tb3+ were successfully co-doped into Cs2AgInCl6 NCs via the hot-injection method. The doping of Bi3+ produces a broad emission originating from self-trapped excitons and reduces the excitation energy, allowing commercial LEDs as excitation sources. Tb3+ ions doping offers characteristic emission peaks (5D0-7FJ) of Tb3+ ions and improves the fluorescence intensity of Cs2AgInCl6 NCs. Furthermore, the Cs2AgInCl6: Bi3+/Tb3+ NCs have been employed as optical thermometry, which provide a temperature calibration curve with the maximum absolute and relative sensitivities of 2.15% K-1 at 350 K and 2.25% K-1 at 303 K in the temperature range of 303-423 K, respectively. Finally, the nanocrystals have been applied to detect Cu2+ in lubricating oil. The fluorescent probe shows a good detection sensitivity of 8.94 × 10-4 nM-1 and a low detection limit of 14.3 nM in the range of 10-300 nM. This work not merely offers a novel way for improving the luminescence performances of double perovskite NCs Cs2AgInCl6, but broadens their potential for detection of Cu2+ and temperature.