Impact of Lanthanide Nanomaterials on Photonic Devices and Smart Applications

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 14; no. 40; pp. e1801882 - n/a
• Main Authors: Zhou, Jiajia, Leaño, Julius L., Liu, Zhenyu, Jin, Dayong, Wong, Ka‐Leung, Liu, Ru‐Shi, Bünzli, Jean‐Claude G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2018
• Subjects: bioimaging; Cutting equipment; Forensic engineering; In vivo methods and tests; lanthanide nanomaterials; Medical imaging; microscopy; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology devices; Photonics; POCT; Quantum confinement; μ‐LED; lanthanide nanomaterials; microscopy; POCT; bioimaging; μ-LED
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201801882

Half a century after its initial emergence, lanthanide photonics is facing a profound remodeling induced by the upsurge of nanomaterials. Lanthanide‐doped nanomaterials hold promise for bioapplications and photonic devices because they ally the unmatched advantages of lanthanide photophysical properties with those arising from large surface‐to‐volume ratios and quantum confinement that are typical of nanoobjects. Cutting‐edge technologies and devices have recently arisen from this association and are in turn promoting nanophotonic materials as essential tools for a deeper understanding of biological mechanisms and related medical diagnosis and therapy, and as crucial building blocks for next‐generation photonic devices. Here, the recent progress in the development of nanomaterials, nanotechnologies, and nanodevices for clinical uses and commercial exploitation is reviewed. The candidate nanomaterials with mature synthesis protocols and compelling optical uniqueness are surveyed. The specific fields that are directly driven by lanthanide doped nanomaterials are emphasized, spanning from in vivo imaging and theranostics, micro‐/nanoscopic techniques, point‐of‐care medical testing, forensic fingerprints detection, to micro‐LED devices. Lanthanide doped nanomaterials are promising light transducers, integrating the features originating from lanthanide electronic behaviors and nanoscale size effects. Cutting‐edge technologies and devices have recently arisen from this association and are in turn promoting nanomaterials for diverse high‐technology applications. Here, recent progress in developing lanthanide‐containing nanomaterials, nanotechnologies, and nanodevices for clinical employment use and commercial exploitation is reviewed.