thermoluminescent light

Hi Taz,

All "glow-in-the-dark" compounds glow by thermoluminescence, but the color at which they glow is fixed by the material composition. Changes in temperature don't change the emission wavelength, unfortunately. The color is fixed because of the depth of the quantum 'wells' which trap electrons when the material is illuminated is set by the material itself. The material glows as electrons escape from these wells and recombine with acceptors in the material (from which the electrons were presumably dislodged upon absorbing light energy). A material that would change emission color with temperature would do so by means of variable quantum wells whose depth is a function of temperature. Alternatively, the material may be designed with a number of quantum wells of varying depths with the shallower ones emptying first. In this hypothetical case the dominant wavelength would progress from a pastel red to blue. I'm guessing here.

Do you know of any thermoluminescent materials that glow very brightly in the range of 3-400 C? Do you have some measure of how bright the material might be?

Luciferin

I am wondering what sort of temperature range you are talking about, and whether you want light intensity to change as opposed to light frequency?

I remember back in the '70s, they made thermometers using liquid crystals which would turn "on" depending on room temperature... also "Mood rings" which were a fad of the period using the same technique. I have no real info on the critters though.

Sincerely

Bill

I am interested in a temp. range of 100f to 900f and i want light intensity to increase as it goes up in temp.

thankx

Why don't you try a simple electronics circuit using a diode and a LDR (Light dependant resistor). This will work at any range you choose and can be as accurate as you make it.

Else there are ways of using a quartz crystal that will vibrate at different frequencies at different temperatures.

Chemical Luminescence may also be used (Luciferin, Luminol etc.)

The electronic method that I told you seems to be the simplest and the cheapest. It will also be safe and allow you to monitor temp changes if needed.

Cheers

I posted more than a month ago looking for a thermoluminescent material that glows brightly in the range of 3-400C. My application is unique. I am looking for something that may not exist, but I'd like to create an intense light, not just a soft, subtle glow, and something that is constant. Ideally, as long as heat is applied the material would flouresce. Is such a material available?