Compared with their corresponding bulk phases

nanoscale rare earth luminescent materials have come forth a lot of new luminescent phenomena such as the red shift of CTS

the broadening of emission peaks

the increase of quenching concentration

the changes of fluorescent lifetimes and quantum efficiency. Investigating and understanding these materials is not only of academic interest but also of technological importance for advanced phosphor applications. Therefore

in this article

progress on the study of nanoscale rare earth luminescent materials has been reviewed. Firstly

summing up the luminescent characteristic of nanoscale rare earth luminescent particles different from those of bulk materials; secondly

summarizing the preparation and spectrum properties of 1D nanoscale rare earth luminescence materials; thirdly

introducing the patterning of luminescent thin films and assemblies in the mesopore template of 2D nanoscale rare earth luminescence materials; finally

the future development trend for the nanoscale luminescent materials is forecasted. That is to say

in preparation

both nanoscale rare earth luminescent materials with good crystal shape

high brightness

nonaggregating

and narrow particle size distributing and ordered array luminescent devices composed of nanowires

nanotubes

nanorods and so on need to be developed. In fundamental studies

more efforts need to be done on the spectra properties rooted in their surface and interface effects. In applications

the key problems of low luminescent brightness and low stabilities must be resolved.