Due to the unique optical and magnetic properties of lanthanides, lanthanide-based nanomaterials have attracted considerable interest in the last two decades. Given their electronic configuration--as 4
f elements--lanthanide-based luminescent materials exhibit unique emission spectra as well as large Stoke or anti-Stoke shifts, which makes them highly sought-after for various applications. Indeed, recent advances in the controllable synthesis and optical tuning of lanthanide-based nanomaterials have created opportunities for use in a rich assortment of emerging applications, including bioimaging, multiplexing sensing, super-resolution imaging, optogenetics, photovoltaics, volumetric display, and more. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of some lanthanides render them promising candidates for e.g., alternative magnetic resonance imaging probes or innovative opto-magnetic materials.
Many research groups are dedicated to the study of fundamental aspects and possible applications for lanthanide-based materials in order to propel this outstanding class of materials to the next level, i.e., the development of next-generation lanthanide-based materials for real-life applications. While the majority of these researchers worldwide are men, this does not mean that women are not currently also contributing with significant achievements to the enrichment of this ever-growing field. As such, in the spirit of the recent Research Topic on
Women in Science: Chemistry, and to help motivate closure of the gender gap in this field, we are delighted to highlight these contributions in lanthanide research in order to promote the work of female researchers in theory, experimental work, and methodology, yielding emerging applications of lanthanide-based optical and magnetic nanomaterials.
This Research Topic will therefore emphasize the diversity of research performed in lanthanide research and present advances in understanding the fundamentals of lanthanides, new research on lanthanide chemistry and materials, as well as promising applications, remaining challenges, and the future of lanthanide-based materials.
Potential topics to be covered may include (but are not limited to) the following:
• Synthesis of novel lanthanide-based nanomaterials
• Novel synthetic strategies toward lanthanide-based nanomaterials
• Surface modification and self-assembly of lanthanide-based nanomaterials
• Optical tuning and luminescent mechanism studies of lanthanide-based nanomaterials
• Experimental and theoretical aspects of magnetic lanthanide-based nanomaterials
• Simulation and computational methodologies
• Biological effects of lanthanide-based nanomaterials
• Lanthanide-based nanomaterials for diverse applications
Please note: to be considered for this collection, the contributing author should be a female researcher.
