The temperature-sensitive luminescence of nanoparticles enables their application as remote thermometers. The size of these nanothermometers makes them ideal to map temperatures with a high spatial resolution. However, high spatial resolution mapping of temperatures >373 K has remained challenging. Here, we realize nanothermometry with high spatial resolutions at elevated temperatures using chemically stable upconversion nanoparticles and confocal microscopy. We test this method on a microelectromechanical heater and study the temperature homogeneity. Our experiments reveal distortions in the luminescence spectra that are intrinsic to high-resolution measurements of samples with nanoscale photonic inhomogeneities. In particular, the spectra are affected by the high-power excitation as well as by scattering and reflection of the emitted light. The latter effect has an increasing impact at elevated temperatures. We present a procedure to correct these distortions. As a result, we extend the range of high-resolution nanothermometry beyond 500 K with a precision of 1–4 K. This work will improve the accuracy of nanothermometry not only in micro- and nanoelectronics but also in other fields with photonically inhomogeneous substrates.

Theoretical calculations have predicted that extreme strains (>10%) in graphene would result in novel applications. However, up to now the highest reported strain reached ∼1.3%. Here, we demonstrate uniaxial strains >10% by pulling graphene using a tensile-MEMS. To prevent it from slipping away it was locally clamped with epoxy using a femtopipette. The results were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy and optical tracking. Furthermore, analysis proved the process to be reversible and nondestructive for the graphene.

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In situ and operando experiments play a crucial role in understanding the mechanisms behind catalytic processes. In these experiments it is important to have precise control over pressure and temperature. In this work, we use luminescence thermometry to map the temperature distribution in a 300 μm microelectromechanical system nano‐reactor with a resolution of ca. 10 μm. These measurements showed a temperature gradient between the center and edge of the heater of ca. 200 °C (at Tset=600 °C) in vacuum and, in addition, a large offset of the local temperature of ca. 100 °C (at Tset=600 °C) in a non‐vacuum (i. e., air, He and H2) environment. The observed temperature heterogeneities can explain differences observed in the reduction behavior of Co‐based Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis catalyst particles at different locations in the nano‐reactor as determined by scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy.

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