Light-Driven Frontiers: From Energy Conversion to Health Applications

The strategic use of light continues to drive innovation in energy conversion, optical communication, and advanced healthcare. Recent advances in the rational design of lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, oxides and fluorides, engineered to operate in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectral regions will be presented. Our research focuses on multifunctional inorganic nanostructures with controlled composition, morphology, and crystalline architecture to optimize the spatial distribution of active Ln3+ ions. Using sol-gel, polyol, hydrothermal, homogeneous precipitation, and high-temperature routes, we tailor particle size, phase purity, and defect chemistry to enhance emission efficiency, suppress concentration quenching, and regulate energy transfer pathways. Morphological engineering ( plays a central role in tuning light-matter interactions and maximizing optical performance.Oxide and fluoride matricesare explored as platforms for visible upconversion, NIR emission, radioluminescence, and persistent luminescence. By adjusting dopant concentration and lattice symmetry, efficient  emissions are achieved, enabling multimodal imaging, optical thermometry, photodynamic therapy, and light-triggered biointerfaces.