Ga Filled Nanothermometers with High Sensitivity and Wide Measuring Range

摘要

Ga-filled MgO and silica nanotubes were fabricated by a simple one-step method. The height of the gallium column in both two kinds of nanotube varies linearly and reproducibly to the temperature change when in situ heating and cooling in transmission electron microscope, make them ideal nanothermometers for use in a wide variety of microenvironments. The Ga-filled MgO nanothermometer has a rather high sensitivity of 6.02 nm/℃ in the measuring range of 30-450℃, which is one of the most sensitive nanothermometer. In comparison, the Ga-filled silica nanothermometer has a moderate sensitivity of 1.15 nm/℃ in a wide temperature range of 30-900°.