Ionic-Radius Mismatch as a Structural Lever for Tuning Phase Transitions and Luminescent Thermometry
Abstract
The widespread implementation of luminescence thermometers requires a comprehensive understanding of the structural factors governing their thermometric performance. Establishing such structure-property relationships is essential for the rational design of sensing materials with application-tailored characteristics. This is particularly relevant for phase-transition-based luminescence thermometers, which offer exceptionally high relative sensitivities. The systematic analysis of K3Lu(PO4)2:Eu3+ demonstrates that introducing co-dopant ions with a controlled ionic-radius mismatch provides an effective strategy for tailoring phase-transition characteristics. This approach enables both the phase-transition temperature and thermal operating range to be controlled. Specifically, the transition temperature shifts from 210 K for K3Lu(PO4)2:Eu3+ to 310 K for K3Lu(PO4)2:Eu3+,10%La3+, while the operating range broadens from 30 to 60 K. Importantly, linear correlations between the ionic-radius mismatch parameter, Ω, and the phase-transition temperature, enthalpy, and entropy provide a quantitative framework for controlling the thermodynamics of the transition through compositional engineering. Beyond luminescence thermometry, these relationships establish a general strategy for designing materials exhibiting first-order phase transitions with tailored thermodynamic characteristics, opening opportunities for their optimization across a broad range of functional applications.
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BibTeX
@misc{javaid2026ionicradius,
title = {{Ionic-Radius Mismatch as a Structural Lever for Tuning Phase Transitions and Luminescent Thermometry}},
author = {A. Javaid and M. Szymczak and A. Sieradzki and L. Marciniak},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.15116},
eprint = {2609.15116},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.15116},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Ionic-Radius Mismatch as a Structural Lever for Tuning Phase Transitions and Luminescent Thermometry
AU - A. Javaid
AU - M. Szymczak
AU - A. Sieradzki
AU - L. Marciniak
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/14
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.15116
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.15116
AB - The widespread implementation of luminescence thermometers requires a comprehensive understanding of the structural factors governing their thermometric performance. Establishing such structure-property relationships is essential for the rational design of sensing materials with application-tailored characteristics. This is particularly relevant for phase-transition-based luminescence thermometers, which offer exceptionally high relative sensitivities. The systematic analysis of K3Lu(PO4)2:Eu3+ demonstrates that introducing co-dopant ions with a controlled ionic-radius mismatch provides an effective strategy for tailoring phase-transition characteristics. This approach enables both the phase-transition temperature and thermal operating range to be controlled. Specifically, the transition temperature shifts from 210 K for K3Lu(PO4)2:Eu3+ to 310 K for K3Lu(PO4)2:Eu3+,10%La3+, while the operating range broadens from 30 to 60 K. Importantly, linear correlations between the ionic-radius mismatch parameter, Ω, and the phase-transition temperature, enthalpy, and entropy provide a quantitative framework for controlling the thermodynamics of the transition through compositional engineering. Beyond luminescence thermometry, these relationships establish a general strategy for designing materials exhibiting first-order phase transitions with tailored thermodynamic characteristics, opening opportunities for their optimization across a broad range of functional applications.
ER -