Optimization of novel luminescent temperature and phase change sensor within ice.

A novel luminescent sensor for temperature and phase change within water ice was developed. The sensor behavior relies on the interaction between the two luminescent peaks of the luminophore pyranine and sucrose within liquid water and, upon freezing, ice. When excited by 365nm light, pyranine emits light with distinct peaks at 440nm and 511nm. These two peaks can be separated into blue and green signals by a color camera or other photosensitive device. The amplitude of these peaks are sensitive to temperature within ice and the ratio of the intensities of these peaks is linear with temperature. The absolute value of the slope of this line is the sensitivity of the sensor, which should be maximized for optimum sensor performance. As with most chemical sensors, the sensitivity of the measurement technique is a function of the concentrations of the its constituent components, and can vary between 1.6 and 9.2%\K. Spectrometer data was collected on numerous solutions with various concentrations of sucrose and pyranine within distilled water. The final presentation will include the spectral performance of the sensor, as well as models describing the optimum sensitivity of the sensor as a function of additive concentration.