Tuning the performance of PSCs using rare-earth elements
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerging and promising alternatives to the market-leading solar cells due to their high performance, low fabrication cost, and versatile material modification.
Composition and microstructural control of Sm2Fe17N3 powders: a promising candidate for next-generation permanent magnets
The composition and microstructure control of Sm2Fe17N3 powders lays the foundation for the enhancement of magnetic properties, which is mainly ascribed to the optimization of the intrinsic magnetic properties and domain structure.
Exceptional thermal stability of lanthanide-phosphonate frameworks
A remarkable thermally-robust and stable metal–organic framework with lanthanide cations is obtained by the in situ formation of a polymeric phosphonate-based organic ligand.
Paper
Near-infrared emitting single- and mixed-ligand MOFs that can be excited in the visible region: synthesis, crystal structures and sensitization of Nd3+, Er3+ and Yb3+
Near-infrared emitting lanthanide ions are efficiently sensitized with excitation in the visible region through the incorporation of amino-substituted bridging ligands within metal–organic framework scaffolds.
Enhanced oxygen electrode performance in solid oxide fuel cells via La-doping of Pr2NiO4+δ-based Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites
Enhanced oxygen electrode performance in solid oxide fuel cells via La-doping of Pr2NiO4+δ-based Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites.
Pillararene-based rare-earth luminescent probe for two-channel simultaneous detection of ROS and ATP in living cells
A supramolecular fluorescent probe based on unique fluorescence of Eu-complex and precise recognition of pillar[5]arene is developed for two channel simultaneous detection of H2O2 and ATP in living cells.
Highly efficient and thermally stable broadband green-emitting BaY2Sc2Al2SiO12:Ce3+ phosphors enabling warm-white LEDs with high luminous efficacy and high color rendering index
A broadband green-emitting BaY2Sc2Al2SiO12:Ce3+ garnet phosphor enables warm-white LEDs with high Ra of 93.3 and high LE of 105.3 lm W−1.
Concentration quenching behavior of Stokes and upconversion luminescence for Pr3+-doped Y3Al5O12
In Pr3+-doped Y3Al5O12, the blue-to-UV upconversion luminescence is significantly more affected by concentration quenching than the UV Stokes luminescence, which is due to cross-relaxation involving the upconversion intermediate states 3PJ and 1D2.
Amide-functionalized lanthanide metal–organic frameworks: smart double ratiometric fluorescence sensing of thiodiglycolic acid and tunable luminescence
Two series of isostructural Ln-MOFs and Ln-doped MOFs were synthesized. Tb-DMF and Tb-DMA are the first to achieve double ratiometric fluorescence sensing of TDGA in real urine. Meanwhile, the doped Ln-MOFs achieve the regulation of emission colors.
Advanced thermal/environmental barrier coatings of high-entropy rare earth disilicates tuned by strong anharmonicity of Eu2Si2O7
Computational discovery and comprehensive property evaluation of advanced thermal/environmental barrier coatings of high-entropy rare earth disilicates alloys tuned by strong anharmonicity of Eu2Si2O7.
Rare-earth chalcogenidotetrachloride clusters (RE3ECl4, RE = Dy, Gd, Y; E = S, Se, Te): syntheses and materials properties
We reported the synthesis and crystal structure of a series of rare-earth chalcogenidotetrachloride complexes. Comparative magnetic studies revealed fine but definitive differences due to using different metal and chalcogen elements.
Paper
A Ca3Sc2Si3O12:Ce3+,Cr3+,Li+ phosphor-in-glass film for high-power laser-driven near-infrared lighting
A Ca3Sc2Si3O12:Ce3+,Cr3+,Li+ phosphor-in-glass film with watt-level near-infrared light output upon blue laser-driven lighting shows potential application in night vision and non-destructive analysis and identification.
Improving the broadband photocatalytic performance of TiO2 through a highly efficient optical converter
High-efficiency photocatalytic performance driven by NIR light is realized in β-NaLuF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@TiO2.
Rare earth-based Cs2NaRECl6 (RE = Tb, Eu) halide double perovskite nanocrystals with multicolor emissions for anticounterfeiting and LED applications
Cs2NaRECl6 (RE = Tb, Eu) NCs with multicolor emissions under different light excitation have great potential in anticounterfeiting and LEDs.
Negative thermal expansion in Sc2Mo3O12:Sm3+ for white LEDs and unveiling the impact of phase transition on cryogenic luminescence
Sc2Mo3O12:Sm3+ phosphor was explored for white LED with improved CRI and precise color coordinates for indoor plant growth. The green emission of monoclinic Sc2Mo3O12 phase at 80 K diminished on transition to the orthorhombic phase at RT.
Fine tuning the steric hindrance of the Eu(II) tris(pyrazolyl)borate complex for a blue organic light-emitting diode
A sky-blue OLED based on a Eu(II) complex Eu–tBu shows an EQEmax of 15.7% and a Lmax of 52 240 cd m−2.
Rare-earth UiO-66 for temperature sensing near room temperature
Eu-Tb-UiO-66 acts as a highly sensitive luminescent thermometer near room temperature.
About this collection
Rare-earth materials find application in lighting, displays, catalysis, hydrogen storage, photovoltaics, magnetism, magnetocalorics, thermoelectrics, biomedical science and sensing, amongst others. In addition to their various applications, there are diverse classes of materials that can be synthesized using rare-earth elements including coordination polymers, solid state inorganic materials, nanoparticles, metal–organic frameworks, etc. This special issue highlights the diversity of the chemistry and application of rare-earth materials.
This Journal of Materials Chemistry C themed collection is Guest Edited by Professor Ashlee Howarth (0000-0002-9180-4084, Concordia University, Canada), Professor Takao Mori (0000-0003-2682-1846, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan) and Professor Zhiguo Xia (0000-0002-9670-3223, South China University of Technology, China). We hope that this collection will give readers an overview of some of the most recent work concerning the materials chemistry of rare earth materials and will help to promote exciting research in the field.