Abstract: A method of preparing a lanthanide-doped nanoparticle sol-gel matrix film having a high signal to noise ratio is provided. The sol-gels are also provided. A method of preparing light emitting sol-gel films made with lanthanide doped nanoparticles, for the production of white light is also provided. The method comprises selecting lanthanides for the production of at least one of green, red and blue light when excited with near infrared light, preparing nanoparticles comprising the selected lanthanides, stabilizing the nanoparticles with ligands operative to stabilize the nanoparticles in an aqueous solution and selected to be substantially removed from the sol-gel matrix film during synthesis, incorporating the stabilized nanoparticles into a sol-gel matrix and heating to increase the signal to noise ratio of the luminescence by substantially removing the low molecular weight organic molecules. Additionally, light emitting sol-gel films made with lanthanide doped nanoparticles are provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing a lanthanide-doped nanoparticle sol-gel matrix film having a high signal to noise ratio is provided. The sol-gels are also provided. A method of preparing light emitting sol-gel films made with lanthanide doped nanoparticles, for the production of white light is also provided. The method comprises selecting lanthanides for the production of at least one of green, red and blue light when excited with near infrared light, preparing nanoparticles comprising the selected lanthanides, stabilizing the nanoparticles with ligands operative to stabilize the nanoparticles in an aqueous solution and selected to be substantially removed from the sol-gel matrix film during synthesis, incorporating the stabilized nanoparticles into a sol-gel matrix and heating to increase the signal to noise ratio of the luminescence by substantially removing the low molecular weight organic molecules. Additionally, light emitting sol-gel films made with lanthanide doped nanoparticles are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric optical amplifier doped with lanthanide ions, which are present in the amplifier in the form of a complex. The invention also relates to novel electrically neutral lanthanide complexes which can be applied with advantage in the above-described polymeric optical amplifiers. These complexes comprise host molecules which readily complex with the lanthanide and fully encapsulate it.