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.

Provided are a nanophosphor and a silica composite including the nanophosphor. The nanophosphor has a core/first shell/second shell structure or a core/first shell/second shell/third shell structure, wherein the core includes a Yb.sup.3+-doped fluoride-based nanoparticle, the first shell is an up-conversion shell including a Yb.sup.3+ and Tm.sup.3+-codoped fluoride-based crystalline composition, the second shell is a fluoride-based emission shell, and the third shell is an outermost crystalline shell.

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.

Li-containing scintillator compositions, as well as related structures and methods are described. Radiation detection systems and methods are described which include a Cs.sub.2LiLn Halide scintillator composition.

The present invention relates to a nanophosphor which may be used as a wavelength conversion part of a solar cell, a fluorescent contrast agent, and a light emitting part of a display device, and a synthesis method thereof. The nanophosphor of the present invention is excited by ultraviolet light to exhibit strong green light emission, and has multicolor light emission characteristics capable of controlling a color such as green, yellowish green, yellow, and orange color by only adjusting the amount of a doping agent.

The present disclosure relates crystals capable of cooling upon illumination. In certain embodiments, the crystals include yttrium-fluoride doped with a trivalent rare earth ion. Exemplary crystals include yttrium-lithium-fluoride crystals and yttrium-sodium-fluoride crystals, doped with Yb.sup.3+, Er.sup.3+, or a combination of both. Methods of producing the crystals hydrothermally and methods of cooling a solution are also provided. Further methods include use of the crystals for therapeutic hypothermia. Finally, a theranostic is provided that includes the crystals conjugated to a targeting moiety capable of selectively binding to a target.

CaF.sub.2 translucent ceramics includes at least two rare earth elements selected from a group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.

A core material (102) is contained in a cylindrical container (101) (first step). The container (101) is formed from a thermoplastic cladding material. The container (101) can be formed from a heat resistant glass such as a borosilicate glass, for example. The core material (102) is a halide having a lower melting point than the cladding material. Next, the container (101) containing the core material (102) is heated using a heater (151) and stretched, thereby forming an optical fiber emitter (105) comprising a core (103) formed from a halide crystal, and a cladding (104) formed from the cladding material.

Provided are cubic-phase (-phase) erbium (Er)-doped near-infrared-II (NIR-II)-emitting nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticles are near-infrared-IIb (NIR-IIb)-emitting nanoparticles. Also provided are nanoparticles having disposed thereon a layer-by-layer crosslinked polymeric hydrophilic biocompatible coating. Also provided are compositions comprising the nanoparticles of the present disclosure. Methods of using the nanoparticles, e.g., for in vivo imaging, are also provided.