Inorganic Lanthanide Compounds with f-d Transition: From Materials to Electroluminescence Devices

With the rapid development of the panel display market, demand for efficient light emitters as active layers in electroluminescence (EL) devices has significantly increased. Luminescent inorganic lanthanide compounds (ILCs) with a characteristic f-d transition are particularly preferred for EL devices because of their high photoluminescent quantum yield, short excited-state lifetime, tunable emission spectra, and high thermal stability. In this Perspective, we first present an overview of inorganic lanthanide compounds with an emphasis on the mechanisms and characteristics of f-d emission. Then, the comprehensive advances of lanthanide element-doped inorganic compounds for EL study in recent decades are summarized. Moreover, the recent progress in directly employing ILCs for EL applications and rational improvement strategies in EL performance are highlighted. Last, we summarize the current challenges and opportunities of ILC-based EL devices as well as future improvement directions.