Efficient photosensitized luminescence from Eu³⁺ in inert nanocrystals via ligand coordination

Abstract Luminescent lanthanide ions incorporated in sodium yttrium fluoride nanocrystals are promising as new luminescent materials in optoelectronics and bioimaging since the nonradiative transition is significantly suppressed due to the absence of high-energy vibrational modes. To prepare optically and electrically active nanocrystals, we explored organic ligands that allow efficient triplet energy transfer to Eu 3+ incorporated into nanocrystals, resulting in an efficient photosensitization effect in colloidal solutions and films. Further, we applied these emitting nanocrystals to light-emitting devices and observed the electroluminescence.