NEAR INFRARED-EMITTING ER AND YB/ER DOPED CEF3 NANOPARTICULATES WITH NO VISIBLE UPCONVERSION

摘要

A rare earth element composition comprising CeF₃ particles doped with one or more rare earth elements selected from Pr, Nd, Yb, and Er, wherein each rare earth element atom replaces a Ce atom in said composition. The composition is optically transparent to wavelengths at which excitation, fluorescence or luminescence of the rare earth metals occur. Composite materials having dispersed therein the compositions, and luminescent devices incorporating the composite materials are also disclosed.