title: Enhancing luminescence in lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles.
abstract: The enthusiasm for research on lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles is driven by both a fundamental interest in the optical properties of lanthanides embedded in different host lattices and their promise for broad applications ranging from biological imaging to photodynamic therapy. Despite the considerable progress made in the past decade, the field of upconversion nanoparticles has been hindered by significant experimental challenges associated with low upconversion conversion efficiencies. Recent experimental and theoretical studies on upconversion nanoparticles have, however, led to the development of several effective approaches to enhancing upconversion luminescence, which could have profound implications for a range of applications. Herein we present the underlying principles of controlling energy transfer through lanthanide doping, overview the major advances and key challenging issues in improving upconversion luminescence, and consider the likely directions of future research in the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543 (Singapore).
authors.forename: Sanyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Renren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiaoji
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiaogang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D049449:Luminescence; D008958:Models, Molecular; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements
keywords: doping; lanthanides; nanoparticles; plasmon; upconversion