A novel thermal history sensor for thermal barrier coatings based on europium (III) ion self-reduction in barium aluminate

Thermometry of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) is essential for designing effective thermal management systems and prolonging the service life of components in aeroengines and gas turbines. However, conducting on-line thermometry in these systems is challenging because it requires physical or optical access to components during operation. A promising alternative is off-line thermometry, in which phosphorescent thermal-history sensors are used to record exposure temperatures after operation. In this study, we synthesized europium (III)-ion-doped barium aluminate (BaAl2O4:Eu3+) via a solid-state reaction and confirmed its ability to function as a thermal history sensor. Subsequently, we developed a new thermal-sensing strategy based on the self-reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in a BaAl2O4:Eu3+ phosphor exposed to high temperatures (900–1300 °C) in ambient air. The Eu3+ concentration decreased as the heat exposure temperature increased due to self-reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+, which irreversibly changed the phosphorescence of BaAl2O4:Eu3+, i.e., its spectra, the ratio of the phosphorescence intensities of Eu3+ and Eu2+, and the lifetime of Eu3+. As the heat exposure temperature increased, the ratio of the phosphorescence intensities of Eu3+ and Eu2+ monotonically decreased due to self-reduction, whereas the phosphorescence lifetime of Eu3+ initially gradually increased until the heat exposure temperature reached 1000 °C because of the degeneration of concentration quenching, and then decreased as the temperature exceeded 1000 °C because of the degeneration of lattice distortions. This demonstrates that heat exposure temperatures exceeding 1000 °C can be quantitatively evaluated through off-line analysis of Eu3+ and Eu2+ phosphorescence intensity ratios and Eu3+ lifetime at room temperature. Thus, BaAl2O4:Eu3+, a self-reducing phosphor, is a potential sensor for off-line thermometry of TBCs.