Bright upconversion over extended temperatures enabled by an organic surface layer

Hao Suo (), Peihang Zhao, Xin Zhang, Yang Guo, Dongxu Guo, Jiwen Chang, Jiangkun Chen, Panlai Li, Zhijun Wang, Hanlin Wei, Weilin Zheng and Feng Wang ()
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Hao Suo: Hebei University
Peihang Zhao: Hebei University
Xin Zhang: Kowloon
Yang Guo: Kowloon
Dongxu Guo: Hebei University
Jiwen Chang: Hebei University
Jiangkun Chen: Kowloon
Panlai Li: Hebei University
Zhijun Wang: Hebei University
Hanlin Wei: Kowloon
Weilin Zheng: Kowloon
Feng Wang: Kowloon

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Lanthanide-doped nanocrystals are promising for photon frequency upconversion with substantial spectrum tunability. However, the utilization of the upconversion process has been constrained by low luminescence efficiency, which may further attenuate at elevated temperatures due to thermal quenching. Herein, we report a versatile strategy to boost upconversion luminescence across a wide temperature range by surface coordination of small organic molecules. Mechanistic investigations affirm that the organic surface layer passivates defects and isolates high-energy surface oscillators, thereby preventing the dissipation of excitation energy. The energy preserving effect becomes more prominent with increasing temperatures, especially in a humid environment. Accordingly, the upconversion emission of NaGdF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ nanocrystals is substantially enhanced in the ambient environment after ligand coordination, accompanied by an additional emission augmentation with increasing temperature to 443 K. By leveraging this anomalous optical response to thermal stimuli, we further establish full-color thermochromic upconversion switching for advanced anti-counterfeiting and logic encryption technologies.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58587-8

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