Luminescent Rare-earth-based Nanoparticles: A Summarized Overview of their Synthesis, Functionalization, and Applications

Rare-earth-based nanoparticles are currently attracting wide research interest in material science, physics, chemistry, medicine, and biology due to their optical properties, their stability, and novel applications. We present in this review a summarized overview of the general and recent developments in their synthesis and functionalization. Their luminescent properties are also discussed, including the latest advances in the enhancement of their emission luminescence. Some of their more relevant and novel biomedical, analytical, and optoelectronic applications are also commented on.This work was supported by a Junta de Andalucía (Spain) Talentia Postdoc Fellowship, co-financed by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme, grant agreement no 267226, and by the European Commission (grant FutureNanoNeeds to WJP). CCC acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for a Juan de la Cierva−Incorporacion contract