Themed collection FOCUS: Rare earth luminescent materials

A dual-heteroatom–lanthanide cluster-embedded polyoxotungstate was prepared and used for sequential fluorescence detection of Fe³⁺ and pyrophosphate.

Four design strategies for modulating the luminescence thermal quenching properties of Bi³⁺-activated phosphors are proposed: (1) defect engineering; (2) structural modulation; (3) lattice structure rigidity; and (4) energy transfer.

Dilution of Er(III) and Yb(III) in coordination polymers with dicyanido-Ag(I) ions using Eu(III) leads to the linkage of luminescent thermometry and nanomagnetism, both of which are enhanced upon their conjunction.

Heterometallic Ir(III)–Eu(III) dyads leverage visible-light excitation (425 nm) to achieve strong circularly polarized luminescence (|g_lum| = 0.114) via d–f energy transfer. This robust architecture enables imaging and PDT in cells.

The rational engineering of material properties and spatial arrangements enabling micro–nano-optical waveguides is crucial for realizing photonic integration and particularly for processing ultracompact optical signal platforms.

DPLCs in PMMA films enable high-resolution X-ray imaging with excellent radiation stability, high light yield, and tunable emission.

Coordination of axially chiral 1,1′-biisoquinoline-N,N′-dioxide ligands to lanthanide ions (Yb, Er) yield 8-coordinate D₂-symmetrical species exhibiting circularly polarized luminescence in the near-infrared region.

The Tm³⁺–³H₅ level bridges Er³⁺:⁴I_11/2 and ⁴I_13/2 states, suppressing multi-phonon relaxation, and enhancing the red/green emission radio 50-fold versus Er³⁺-single-doped GMTO.

A universal MoO₄²⁻ doping strategy enables Ln³⁺/MoO₄²⁻ dimer formation in fluorapatite, inducing 4d–4f hybridization that dramatically amplifies upconversion and downconversion luminescence.

Ln-MOFs incorporating a Co³⁺-based metalloligand act as excellent photocatalysts for the complete degradation of selected antibiotics. The photophysical properties of Ln-MOFs and the mechanism of photocatalysis have been systematically investigated.

Tetrazine-functionalised lanthanide chelates and their catalyst-free ‘click’ reactions with a trans-cyclooctene-rhodamine fluorophore are reported. These probes were delivered across the blood–brain barrier using focused ultrasound and microbubbles.

A unique bidirectional Pr³⁺ ⇄ Yb³⁺ energy transfer is studied here for the first time within a molecular complex, with topologically selective composition [YbPrYb].

This work introduces a subgrid cage confinement strategy within GdAl_1.5Ga_1.5(BO₃)₄ to precisely control energy transfer, achieving outstanding PLQY and superior thermal stability, show great potential in bioimaging and non-destructive testing.

Lanthanide–azobenzene macrocyclic complexes show contraction-tuned UV and/or Vis photoswitching and a unique glass-surface trigger for cis-to-trans re-isomerization. Nd³⁺ and Yb³⁺ assemblies function as dual Vis/NIR luminescent thermometers.

A photochromic pyridinium-Zn MOF enables simultaneous detects, adsorbs, and degrades tetracycline. Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ incorporation enables dual photochromic-fluorescent responses for advanced anti-counterfeiting and on-site detection.

A new multi-emission center Eu³⁺/Eu²⁺ co-doped ZIF-L (Eu/ZIF-L) film with fluorescence intensity dependent temperature sensing activities.

Thermostable lanthanide(III) single-ion magnets enabling quantum information processing technologies and photonics.

Mononuclear Eu(III) complexes achieve a high luminescence quantum yield (91%) and ultra-narrowband circularly polarized luminescence (FWHM = 5 nm) via achiral π-conjugated ligand design and a spontaneous resolution crystallization process.

This work developed a sensitive ratiometric nanothermometer with oppositely temperature-dependent emission peaks, operating within the NIR-II window.

Two series of giant Ln₂₁-oxo-cluster-embedded polyoxotungstates based on {Ln₂₇Se₁₀Ge₉W₉₁} clusters were created. 1-Eu exhibits high single-crystal proton conductivity and 1-Eu_0.25Dy_0.75 emits macroscopic white light under blue irradiation.

Luminescent Eu₂/Pt₂ heterometallic arrays. The photophysical and temperature-dependent emission properties of luminescent europium complexes are modulated by the introduction of various platinum fragments.

ECL emissions originating from a series of heterobimetallic complexes comprising a ruthenium acetylide antenna conjugated to an NIR emissive lanthanide (Yb and Nd) unit via a bipyridyl ligand were achieved in the NIR spectral range.

The theoretical HRBE and VRBE scheme of Mg₃Y₂Ge₃O₁₂:Ln³⁺ phosphors were constructed and applications in X-ray imaging, anti-counterfeiting and information storage realized, providing a basis for the rational design of novel long persistent luminescence and storage phosphors.

Several kinds of rare earth double perovskites are synthesized, and their scintillation performance is characterized; also, their application in underwater X-ray imaging has been demonstrated using perovskite/polymer composite scintillation screens.

Eu³⁺-based conjugates with an Eu³⁺-sensitising ter-aryl amido–phenyl–picolinamide antenna exhibit superior two-photon absorption properties to those of the bi-aryl amido–phenyl–picolinamide antenna for improved microscopy of living cells.

This article presents the influence of lanthanide size and ligands conformational flexibility on the lanthanide assemblies and their corresponding luminescent properties.

Four novel crystals of the RE(III)–Te(IV)–B–O system (β-LaTeBO₅ and RETeBO₅ (RE = Y, Gd, Tb)) have been obtained, which exhibit wide transparency (0.4–6.5 μm), large birefringence and high thermal stability.

Tri-channel orthogonal luminescence under different excitation wavelengths is achieved in a single nanoparticle for information encryption.

A series of Ln₁₄ clusters is reported, in which Gd₁₄ exhibits a pronounced magnetocaloric effect, and Tb₉Eu₅ functions as the first lanthanide cluster-based ratiometric luminescent probe for detecting ofloxacin.

Enhanced and circularly polarised modulation of visible to near-infrared luminescence by resonant coupling between silver nanoparticles and chiral nanoparticles.

The mononuclear Eu³⁺ complexes show solvent and Cs⁺ ion cooperatively induced metal stereocenter Δ/Λ configurational inversion, accompanied by an inversion of the circularly polarized luminescence sign.

Three isostructural lanthanide–titanium–oxo clusters, Ln₂Ti₇ (Ln = La, Sm, Eu), were synthesized. Eu₂Ti₇ exhibits a strong magnetic circularly polarized luminescence response, while Sm₂Ti₇ shows near-infrared magnetic circular dichroism response.

Reducing the spin concentration, spin-orbit coupling strength, and ground spin state of lanthanide ions embedded in metal–organic frameworks improves their spin qubit performance.

The dinuclear helicate Eu₂(L^R)₄ exhibits a solvent-regulated metal stereocenter Δ/Λ configurational inversion, independent of P/M helical conformational conversion. This reversal process is accompanied by an inversion of the CPL.

Dysprosium(III) single-molecule magnets are bridged within a coordination polymer by Pt(II)-cyanido metalloligands serving as their temperature sensors.

Excellent temperature sensitivities were realized in NaLaTi₂O₆:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ based on FIR technique.

High-performance NIR emission was observed in Cs₂NaInCl₆:Tm³⁺, where the sensitizer Sb³⁺ achieved high-efficiency NIR emission and Te⁴⁺ enabled blue-light excitation.

Realizing efficient long-wavelength near-infrared (NIR) emission of Cr³⁺ ions is still a challenge in spinel-based phosphors due to the limitations of strong crystal fields.

The codoping of Ln³⁺ (Ln = Yb, Nd) in the Cs₂NaInCl₆:Sb³⁺ host not only produces PL components from visible to near-infrared regions, but also achieves a high near-infrared PLQY of ∼48.95%.

By reacting, for the first time, the H₂trz₂An anilate linker, bearing triazole substituents, with Dy^III, Tb^III and Ho^III nodes, a novel family of 3D anilato-based lanthanide-MOFs/CPs, showing SIM properties, have been obtained.

Cd-PNMI, a white-light-emitting MOF, demonstrates ratiometric fluorescence quenching of nitro explosives and toxic substances, and possesses the capability to rapidly and selectively adsorb Rhodamine B and fluorescein dyes from waste liquids.

The Er³⁺ single-doped NaGdTi_1.8Al_0.2O₆ double perovskite material achieves multicolor luminescence, afterglow, and upconversion emission by responding to several types of excitation ranging from UV to NIR and thermal disturbance.

The colorimetric visual detection of fluoride ions in river was realized through weak double dynamic interactions between mixed lanthanide-organic framework and fluoride ions.

Sb³⁺/Sm³⁺ co-doping can effectively modulate the luminescence by adjusting the energy transfer in Cs₂NaYCl₆ double perovskites. Two minima in the excited state of ³P₁ enable the double self-trapped exciton emission at low temperatures.

An unprecedented disk-like Y₁₂ cluster with unique Y₂⊂Y₁₀ type structure was achieved successfully, which is the largest non-brucite type disk-like RE cluster and exhibits obvious electroluminescence performance in OLED device.

The –OH group plays a key role in the thermal enhancement effect of nanoparticles (NPs). By separately introducing LiCl and D₂O into aqueous solutions, we demonstrated how the blue shift and –OH content affect the thermal enhancement factor of NPs.

The levels of Nd³⁺ in CsPbCl₃ lie below the top of the host's VB. Consequently, Nd³⁺ luminescence is not observed.

Control of the composition of molecular magnetic materials by chemical modification leads to tuning of their magnetization dynamics. We show that two structural isomers display such differences with respect to each other and to their parent complex.

Mononuclear chiral lanthanide hexaazamacrocycles afford brilliant luminescence, strong CPL, high relaxivity and efficient MRI.