Nanothermometry

Luminescent ratiometric nanothermometry uses the Boltzmann distribution of the population of two adjacent, thermally coupled energy levels of lanthanides integrated in nanocrystals. This reasearch field is quite young but promises to answer fundamental questions in science such as: What are the mechanisms of heat transfer at the nanoscale?

I started working on nanothermometry by accident. One of my PhD colleagues worked on it and together we designed and investigated a temperature sensor based on nanothermometers doped to a polymer optical fiber. Intrigued by this elegancy of nanothermometers, we discussed potential applications of high relevance. And in a memorable tram ride after work we came up with the idea of superresolution nanothermometry. We performed a numerical study which was picked up by Andrea Pickel and co-workers in an experimental work involving Thulium-acitivated upconversion nanocrystals.

I contributed to the maturation of nanothermometry by employing machine learning to make power-dependency calibrations superfluous.

Together with colleagues from Leibniz University Hannover, I filed for a patent on a novel process to attach nanothermometers to an optical fiber based on fused silica.

I also started to employ nanothermometry in dynamic self-assembly (DSA) to gain a deeper understanding of the DSA’s fundamental mechanisms.