US 12037446 B1Patent grantUnited States

Thermoluminescent Temperature Sensor

Official patent title

Thermoluminescence sensor and method of preparation thereof

Arabic title: مستشعر للتألّق الحراري وطريقة تحضيره

Invention

Problem

Many conjugated-polymer temperature indicators change gradually over broad temperature ranges and may require toxic, high-boiling solvents, limiting practical processing and clear optical readout.

Why it matters

A reversible optical response to temperature can support compact sensing systems where temperature is converted into a measurable change in light emission.

Approach

The sensor places a thermo-responsive composition of curcumin oil and a cyano derivative of poly(phenylenevinylene), including PDH-CN embodiments, in a sealed transparent container. The composition changes its emission with temperature and can serve as a photon source in a photomultiplier-based sensing system.

Who may benefit

Potential beneficiaries include optical-sensor developers, instrumentation researchers, thermal-monitoring teams, and optoelectronics laboratories.

Potential value

The publication combines a thermo-fluorescent material, transparent containment, heat transfer, and optical detection in a defined sensor architecture with a reversible temperature-dependent response.

Background

Stimuli-responsive polymers can translate temperature changes into changes in color or fluorescence, making them relevant to optical sensors and thermometers. Existing conjugated polymers may respond gradually because chain conformation, crystallinity, and aggregation shift continuously with temperature. Their processing may also require toxic, high-boiling solvents, and solvent choice can alter absorption and emission. The publication addresses these limitations through a curcumin-oil medium and a cyano-substituted poly(phenylenevinylene) composition designed for a measurable thermal optical response.

Technology overview

The thermo-responsive composition combines curcumin oil with a cyano derivative of poly(phenylenevinylene), with embodiments using PDH-CN and an exciplex between the polymer and oil. The material is held in a sealed transparent container. Temperature-dependent optical emission is detected directly or through a system comprising a heat-transfer plate and photomultiplier tube, which converts received photons into an electrical output signal for temperature sensing.

Potential applications

Optical temperature indicators for laboratory or industrial thermal-monitoring studies.
Photon-source elements in photomultiplier-based temperature sensing systems.
Thermo-fluorochromic materials for optoelectronic device research.
Reversible color or emission demonstrations for smart-material instrumentation.

Evidence-supported advantages

The disclosed emission response varies with temperature and is described as reversible during thermal cycling.
Curcumin oil serves as the medium for the cyano-substituted conjugated polymer composition.
A sealed transparent container provides a defined optical sensing element.
The sensor can be integrated with a heat-transfer plate and photomultiplier readout.
The composition is prepared by mixing and heating the polymer component with curcumin oil.

Development stage

The publication describes preparation of the polymer composition, thermal optical measurements, and a prototype photon-source configuration; commercialization was not established.

Commercial opportunity

The technology may interest sensor, instrumentation, and optoelectronics developers seeking temperature-responsive optical materials. Licensing or joint development would require validation of calibration stability, cycling durability, packaging, manufacturing consistency, and performance under the intended operating environment. Benchmarking against established temperature-sensing approaches would also be necessary.

Patent classifications

WIPO IPC

C08G61/02Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
G01K11/20Measuring temperature or quantity of heat; thermally sensitive elements not otherwise provided for

CPC

C08G61/02Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
G01K11/20Measuring temperature or quantity of heat; thermally sensitive elements not otherwise provided for
C08G2261/1422Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/1424Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/1428Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/143Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/18Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/228Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/312Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/3327Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C08G2261/94Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds

Inventors

First inventorKhalid Hassan Ibnouf Ahmed
InventorOsamah Abdulrahman Aldaghri
InventorHajo Idriss Mohammed Idriss
InventorAhmed Alsadig Ahmed

Keywords

thermoluminescence
temperature sensor
PDH-CN
curcumin oil
conjugated polymer
exciplex
photomultiplier
optical emission

Patent document and drawings

The patent publication is mapped to this record. Patent drawings remain within that publication; no separately cleared public media package has been supplied.