A lanthanoid-containing inorganic material fine particle having a function of converting a wavelength of light to a shorter wavelength, the lanthanoid-containing inorganic material fine particle including: a core particle; and a shell layer, the core particle containing a lanthanoid having a light-absorbing function and a lanthanoid having a light-emitting function, the shell layer including at least an outer shell containing a rare earth element, the total amount of the lanthanoid having a light-absorbing function and the lanthanoid having a light-emitting function in the outer shell being 2 mol % or less based on the amount of the rare earth element contained in the outer shell, the outer shell having a thickness of 2 to 20 nm, the core particle and the shell layer having no interface at a contact face to form a continuous body.

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 β-Na(RE)F.sub.4 nanoparticle, wherein RE is a lanthanide, yttrium, or a combination or mixture thereof.

The invention provides a novel class of long-acting photoreceptor-binding nanoparticles, methods of their preparation, and compositions and uses thereof. The invention also relates to use of such nanoparticles and compositions for NIR light sensation and pattern vision, visual enhancement and repair, and other ophthalmology therapies.

The embodiments provide a radiation detection material emitting fluorescence with high intensity and short lifetime, and also provide a radiation detection device. The polycrystalline radiation detection material of the embodiment is represented by the following formula (1)
TlM.sub.1-x-yR.sub.xX.sub.3-z  (1).
In the formula, M is at least one metal element selected form the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba and Mg; R is at least one luminescence center element selected form the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Yb and Nd; X is at least one halogen element selected form the group consisting of Cl, Br and F; and x, y and z are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0≤x≤0.5, −0.1≤y≤0.1, and −0.5≤z≤1, respectively.

Provided is a core/multishell tetragonal upconversion nanophosphor capable of being excited by near-infrared (NIR) light having wavelengths of 800±20 nm, 980±20 nm, and 1532±20 nm to emit light of blue, green, red, and combinations thereof.

The present application provides an apparatus for a photo-alignment process. The apparatus for a photo-alignment process includes a reflector, an up-conversion layer, and a polarizer optically coupled together. The reflector is configured to reflect an infrared light and provide a reflected infrared light to the up-conversion layer. The up-conversion layer is configured to convert the reflected infrared light to an ultraviolet light, and provide the ultraviolet light to the polarizer. The polarizer is configured to convert the ultraviolet light to a polarized ultraviolet light for the photo-alignment process.

The present disclosure relates to down-shifting nanophosphors, a method for preparing the same, and a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) using the same. The down-shifting nanophosphors according to an embodiment of the present disclosure include a core including NaYF.sub.4 nanocrystals doped with neodymium (Nd) and ytterbium (Yb), and further include a neodymium (Nd)-doped crystalline shell surrounding the core, or further include a NaYF.sub.4 crystalline shell surrounding the crystalline shell. Therefore, the down-shifting nanophosphors efficiently absorb near infrared rays with a wavelength range of 700-900 nm and efficiently emit near infrared rays with a wavelength range of 950-1050 nm. In addition, the down-shifting nanophosphors according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a size of 60 nm or less, and thus can be applied to manufacture transparent LSC films with ease and can realize transparent solar cell modules having high near infrared ray shifting efficiency.

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.

The present invention provides a monodispersed lanthanum based upconverting microrods comprising β-NaYF.sub.4:Yb.sup.3+, Er.sup.3+ and β-NaYF.sub.4:Yb.sup.3+, Tm.sup.3+, capped with oleic acid. The upconverting microrods, embedded in polymer matrices is used for making security tags and for sensing application. The process of preparation of the oleic acid capped upconverting microrods is also disclosed.

Compositions of matter, downconversion layers including the compositions of matter, and devices including the compositions of matter are described. In an embodiment, the compositions of matter are downconversion materials configured to absorb a quantum of energy of a first energy and, in response, emit two or more quanta of energy of a second energy less than the first energy. Methods of making and depositing downconversion materials are also described. Downconversion precursor mixtures suitable for making downconversion materials and methods of making the same are also described.