Each lanthanide ion can emit light. (Courtesy: Andrew Mueller/Columbia Engineering) Two independent teams in the US have demonstrated the potential of using the optical properties of nanocrystals to ...

These sensors are luminescent nanocrystals that can change color and/or intensity when pushed or pulled. Since these “all-optical” nanosensors are only probed by light, they can be read out completely ...

Atomic ions from the periodic table's lanthanide row, sometimes referred to as rare-earth elements, are doped into the study’s nanocrystals and serve as their optically active constituents.