Beyond the Spectrum: Nanocrystals for Light Manipulation

Abstract

Light manipulation through advanced nanomaterials has revolutionized modern photonics, extending beyond the visible spectrum to X-rays and mid-infrared wavelengths for enhanced imaging, sensing, and energy conversion. At the forefront of this change are lanthanide-doped nanocrystals and perovskite nanocrystals, which exhibit exceptional frequency conversion capabilities. Lanthanide-doped nanocrystals utilize the unique electronic transitions of lanthanides to enable multi-wavelength emission, long-lived luminescence, and efficient upconversion and downconversion processes. Meanwhile, perovskite nanocrystals, with their tunable bandgap and high quantum efficiency, present a complementary platform for broad-spectrum frequency conversion and enable precise control over light-matter interactions. These nanocrystals have found wide-ranging applications in X-ray photonics, offering unparalleled resolution and sensitivity in biomedical imaging, security screening, and space exploration. Their increased X-ray scintillation efficiency significantly improves radiographic imaging, enabling earlier disease detection and lower radiation doses in medical diagnostics. Beyond imaging, nanocrystal-based light conversion technologies are shaping the future of assistive technologies, facilitating bio-detection, neural stimulation, and advanced optical interfaces for human-computer interaction. By combining nanophotonics and energy harvesting, these materials not only push the boundaries of imaging science, but also open new pathways for improving accessibility and quality of life. This work highlights the critical role of frequency conversion nanocrystals in advancing next-generation imaging and assistive devices, paving the way for a more connected and technologically empowered future.

About the Speaker

Prof. LIU Xiaogang earned his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Northwestern University in 2004. He was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before joining the Department of Chemistry at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2006. He became a Full Professor in 2017 and is currently a Distinguished Professor there. Among his research interests are the study of energy transfer in lanthanide-doped nanomaterials, the application of optical nanomaterials for neuromodulation and light-field imaging, the development of advanced X-ray imaging scintillators, and the prototyping of electronic tools for assistive technologies. He serves on the editorial boards of multiple journals, including Nanoscale, BMEMat, Journal of Luminescence, Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Chemistry–An Asian Journal, Advanced Optical Materials, InfoMat, The Innovation, Nanoscale Horizons, Small Methods, Next Technology, and Nano Letters.

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