New methods and assays for multiplexed detection of analytes using phosphors that are uniform in morphology, size, and composition based on their unique optical lifetime signatures are described herein. The described assays and methods can be used for imaging or detection of multiple unique chemical or biological markers simultaneously in a single assay readout.

An upconversion single molecule probe is provided that includes a core having a nanoparticle seed crystal, where the nanoparticle seed crystal is an upconversion seed crystal, a first shell enveloping the core, and a second shell enveloping the first shell.

A radiation-emitting device may include a radiation-emitting semiconductor chip configured to emit electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength range from a radiation exit surface, a first phosphor configured to convert electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength range into electromagnetic radiation of a second wavelength range. The second wavelength range may be or include infrared light. The device may further include an up-converting phosphor configured to convert infrared light of the second wavelength range into visible light.

Disclosed is a solar cell module. The module includes a solar cell including a plurality of unit battery cells electrically connected to each other via internal connection electrodes; an upper cover disposed on a front face of the solar cell; a light-conversion coating layer coated on an inner face of the upper cover, wherein the light-conversion coating layer includes upconversion nano-particles for absorbing near-infrared rays and emitting light having a wavelength in a visible region; a lower cover disposed on a rear face of the solar cell; a first filling material layer formed between the solar cell and the light-conversion coating layer; and a second filling material layer formed between the solar cell and the lower cover.

An active laser medium for emitting a light beam by laser effect includes an X—F2-doped crystal, wherein X is a chemical element from the alkaline-earth family and F is fluorine. The crystal is doped with trivalent ions including: a first category of optically active dopant ions, in which each dopant ion is an ion of a first rare earth; and a second category of optically inactive dopant ions, referred to as buffer ions, in which each dopant ion is an ion of a rare earth different from the first rare earth. The second category of dopant ions has at least ions of a second rare earth and ions of a third rare earth, different from one another. The invention provides an active laser medium that can be used to obtain both a desired emission spectrum shape and a high thermal conductivity.

The present invention relates to a method for producing luminescent nanoparticles wherein particle size of the nanoparticles is controlled. The method of the present invention includes admixing two or more rare earth metal salts in a first solvent and an organic oil to form a reaction mixture, and subjecting the reaction mixture to an inert gas so that flow rate of the inert gas is at least 2-5 L/h and pressure in the reaction vessel is at least 50 Pa over atmospheric pressure, preferably 50-80 Pa over atmospheric pressure.

The absorbance or emission wavelength of composite materials comprising a transition metal doped shell disposed over a rare earth doped core and a functionalizable group on the surface of the transition metal doped shell can change upon subjection to a carboxylic acid. This method of changing the absorbance or emission wavelength of a composite material can be used to identify counterfeit currency using an ink comprising a composite material.

Inorganic halides (e.g., inorganic halide scintillators) of the general formula A.sub.3B.sub.2X.sub.9, including inorganic halides comprising thallium monovalent cations and/or combinations of different halides, are described. Radiation detectors including the inorganic halide scintillators and methods of using the detectors to detect high energy radiation are also described. In some cases, the scintillators can include a gadolinium cation, a boron cation, a lithium cation, a chloride ion, or combinations thereof and the scintillator can be used to detect neutrons.

Ligand-capped inorganic particles, films composed of the ligand-capped inorganic particles, and methods of patterning the films are provided. Also provided are electronic, photonic, and optoelectronic devices that incorporate the films. The ligands that are bound to the inorganic particles are composed of a cation/anion pair. The anion of the pair is bound to the surface of the particle and at least one of the anion and the cation is photosensitive.

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.