SYNTHESIS AND LUMINESCENCE OF LANTHANIDE IONS IN NANOSCALE INSULATINGHOSTS

This review summarizes recent work in nanostructured insulating materi als that contain optically active lanthanide ions. These materials fin d applications in lasers, optical amplifiers, and optical-display phos phors. This review concentrates on the synthesis and luminescence spec troscopy of lanthanide-containing nanostructured particles, films, and composites. Spectroscopic studies range from basic luminescence spect roscopy and quantum efficiency measurements to high-resolution spectro scopic studies that investigate the phonon dynamics and electron-phono n interaction as a function of particle size. This review identifies s everal areas for further study, including the location, distribution, or segregation of dopants in nanoparticles; the efficiency of energy t ransfer across interfaces; and the effects of quantum confinement or c hanges in phonon dynamics and electron-phonon interactions on the radi ative and nonradiative relaxation rates in localized luminescent dopan ts.