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Bright upconversion over extended temperatures enabled by an organic surface layer

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Suo

    (Hebei University
    Kowloon)

  • 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
    Kowloon)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Suo & Peihang Zhao & Xin Zhang & Yang Guo & Dongxu Guo & Jiwen Chang & Jiangkun Chen & Panlai Li & Zhijun Wang & Hanlin Wei & Weilin Zheng & Feng Wang, 2025. "Bright upconversion over extended temperatures enabled by an organic surface layer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58587-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58587-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bining Tian & Angel Fernandez-Bravo & Hossein Najafiaghdam & Nicole A. Torquato & M. Virginia P. Altoe & Ayelet Teitelboim & Cheryl A. Tajon & Yue Tian & Nicholas J. Borys & Edward S. Barnard & Mekhai, 2018. "Low irradiance multiphoton imaging with alloyed lanthanide nanocrystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Guowei Li & Shihui Jiang & Aijun Liu & Lixiang Ye & Jianxi Ke & Caiping Liu & Lian Chen & Yongsheng Liu & Maochun Hong, 2023. "Proof of crystal-field-perturbation-enhanced luminescence of lanthanide-doped nanocrystals through interstitial H+ doping," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Jian Zhou & Changyu Li & Denghao Li & Xiaofeng Liu & Zhao Mu & Weibo Gao & Jianrong Qiu & Renren Deng, 2020. "Single-molecule photoreaction quantitation through intraparticle-surface energy transfer (i-SET) spectroscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Junxin Wang & Tian Ming & Zhao Jin & Jianfang Wang & Ling-Dong Sun & Chun-Hua Yan, 2014. "Photon energy upconversion through thermal radiation with the power efficiency reaching 16%," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Tianying Sun & Bing Chen & Yang Guo & Qi Zhu & Jianxiong Zhao & Yuhua Li & Xian Chen & Yunkai Wu & Yaobin Gao & Limin Jin & Sai Tak Chu & Feng Wang, 2022. "Ultralarge anti-Stokes lasing through tandem upconversion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
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