Lanthanide-Doped Materials for Optical Applications

Lanthanide luminescence is widely used in different areas including spectroscopy, materials science, nanotechnology, chemistry, and bio-medical applications due to their unique optical emission. This chapter gives a brief account of lanthanides and the basics of luminescence in them. Further, the downshifting and upconversion-based luminescence of lanthanide ions has been briefed in different types of host matrices including inorganic oxide phosphors, fluoride-based phosphors, organic complexes, metal oxide frameworks, halide perovskites, and composite materials. Different types of sensitization mechanisms for lanthanide luminescence along with the different types of energy transfer processes in them have also been discussed by taking different examples. In the last, optical applications of these materials for light-emitting diodes, display devices, optical temperature sensors, security, laser material, and optical-imaging applications have also been included.