Disclosed herein is a nanocomposite comprising a core-shell nanoparticle and a core-shell quantum dot. The core-shell nanoparticle comprises a phosphor core, a shell layer, and a cleavable peptide. The core-shell quantum dot comprises a center core, an intermediate layer, an outer layer, a silica layer, and an arginylglycylaspartic acid (RGD) peptide. The core-shell nanoparticle and the core-shell quantum dot are linked to each other via forming a peptide bond between the cleavable peptide and the RGD peptide. Also disclosed are the uses of the nanocomposite in making a diagnosis of tumors.

Monodisperse particles having: a single pure crystalline phase of a rare earth-containing lattice, a uniform three-dimensional size, and a uniform polyhedral morphology are disclosed. Due to their uniform size and shape, the monodisperse particles self assemble into superlattices. The particles may be luminescent particles such as down-converting phosphor particles and up-converting phosphors. The monodisperse particles of the invention have a rare earth-containing lattice which in one embodiment may be an yttrium-containing lattice or in another may be a lanthanide-containing lattice. The monodisperse particles may have different optical properties based on their composition, their size, and/or their morphology (or shape). Also disclosed is a combination of at least two types of monodisperse particles, where each type is a plurality of monodisperse particles having a single pure crystalline phase of a rare earth-containing lattice, a uniform three-dimensional size, and a uniform polyhedral morphology; and where the types of monodisperse particles differ from one another by composition, by size, or by morphology. In a preferred embodiment, the types of monodisperse particles have the same composition but different morphologies. Methods of making and methods of using the monodisperse particles are disclosed.

A single-band upconversion luminescent material includes an amorphous ceramic host; and lanthanide ions doped into the ceramic host.

The present technology relates generally to a stable oil-in-water emulsion containing upconverting nanoparticles. In particular, the present technology relates to an ink formulation comprising a stable oil-in-water emulsion of upconverting nanoparticles useful for security printing. Preferably the upconverting nanoparticles comprise a -Na(RE)F.sub.4 nanoparticle, wherein RE is a lanthanide, yttrium, or a combination or mixture thereof.

The present invention provides a lanthanide-doped fluoride nanocomposite, which comprises: a core layer, is consisting of a first compound, wherein the first compound has a sodium fluoride compound with a base material, a first lanthanide metal and a second lanthanide metal; a middle layer covering the core layer, is consisting of a second compound, wherein the second compound has a sodium fluoride compound with the base material and the first lanthanide metal; and an outer shell layer covering the middle layer, is consisting of a third compound, wherein the third compound has a sodium fluoride compound with the base material and the first lanthanide metal or a third lanthanide metal.

Fluorescent nanoparticle compositions and methods of used for dental bonded restorations are provided herein.

The present disclosure describes luminescent solar concentrators that include photoluminescent nanoparticles. The photoluminescent nanoparticles include a semiconductor nanocrystal that sensitizes the luminescence of a defect. The defect can include, for example, an atom, a cluster of atoms, or a lattice vacancy. The defect can be incorporated into the semiconductor nanocrystal, adsorbed onto, or otherwise associated with the surface of the semiconductor nanocrystal.

Synthesizing upconverting nanoparticles includes heating a precursor solution comprising one or more rare earth salts, an alkali metal salt or alkaline earth salt, and a solvent comprising a plasticizer in a microwave reactor to yield a product mixture, and cooling the product mixture to yield the upconverting nanoparticles. Core-shell upconverting nanoparticles are synthesized by combining the upconverting nanoparticles with a precursor solution comprising one or more rare earth salts, an alkali metal salt or alkaline earth salt, and a solvent comprising a plasticizer to yield a nanoparticle mixture, heating the nanoparticle mixture in a microwave reactor to yield a product mixture, and cooling the product mixture to yield the core-shell upconverting nanoparticles.

A method for stabilizing a quantum dot's emission spectrum, comprising: illuminating the quantum dot with an illumination fluence sufficient to effect a persistent reduction in blue-shift over time in the quantum dot's spectrum. A method, comprising discriminating between a first quantum dot and a second quantum dot on the basis of spectral stabilities of the first quantum dot and the second quantum dot. A method, comprising: illuminating a quantum dot with a first fluence so as to effect a first emission color from the quantum dot; and illuminating the quantum dot with a second fluence so as to effect a second emission color from the quantum dot, the first fluence and the second fluence differing in intensity. A spectrally-stabilized quantum dot, the spectrally-stabilized quantum dot exhibiting a spectral shift of less than about 2.5 meV over about 15 minutes of continuous operation.

An optical bio-sensing device includes a transparent substrate covering a top of a space accommodating therein a sample containing a target bio-material; a signal converter fixed to the transparent substrate, and including the upconversion nanoparticles for receiving incident light and emitting converted light of a wavelength shorter than a wavelength of the incident light; a signal reflector including retroreflection particles bindable to the signal converter via the target bio-material, wherein the retroreflection particles retroreflect the converted light; a light source for irradiating the incident light to the signal converter; and a light receiver for receiving light retroreflected from the signal reflector.