Regulating Arrhenius Activation Energy and Fluorescence Quantum Yields of AuNCs-MOF to Achieve High Temperature Sensitivity in a Wide Response Window

Luminescent thermometry affords remote measurement of temperature and shows huge potential in future technology beyond those possible with traditional methods. Strategies of temperature measurement aiming to increase thermal sensitivity in a wide temperature response window would represent a pivotal step forward, but most thermometers cannot do both of them. Herein, we propose a balancing strategy to achieve a trade-off between high Arrhenius activation energy (<i>E</i>_a), which could stretch the temperature response windows, and fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) in a manner that will increase thermal sensitivity in a wide response window. In particular, a luminescent thermometer composed of AuNCs-MOF is prepared via a facile impregnation process to enhance QYs and <i>E</i>_a, responsible for high relative sensitivity (<i>S</i>_r) (15.6% K^-1) and ultrawide temperature linearity range (from 83 to 343 K), respectively. Taking fluorescence intensity and lifetime as multiple parameters, the maximum <i>S</i>_r can reach 22.4% K^-1 by multiple linear regression. The maximum <i>S</i>_r and temperature response range of the proposed thermometer outperform those of the most recent luminescent thermometers. The strategy of balancing <i>S</i>_r and thermal response range by regulating <i>E</i>_a and QYs enables the construction of ultra-accurate thermal sensors in the age of artificial intelligence.