Lanthanide-based chiral photonics with balanced quantum yield and optical dissymmetry

Abstract

Lanthanide-based chiral luminescent materials, which combine high color purity, high luminescence efficiency, and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), demonstrate promising applications in information technologies such as three-dimensional displays and imaging. However, this field still faces multiple challenges, among which the most prominent is how to effectively enhance the dissymmetry factor (g_lum) while maintaining high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY). In recent years, substantial advances have been achieved in material synthesis, chirality manipulation, and device design, directed toward simultaneously enhancing both PLQY and g_lum. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in this field, with a focus on performance-oriented design strategies, material innovations, and practical applications. First, the fundamental theory of CPL is briefly introduced. Then, based on both traditional and emerging chiral structures, key strategies for enhancing the PLQY and g_lum are systematically discussed, covering material systems such as lanthanide complexes, nanoparticles, and perovskites. Furthermore, diverse and impactful applications of chiral lanthanide luminescent materials are surveyed, including information encryption and storage, and optoelectronic devices. Finally, existing obstacles and future opportunities are outlined to inspire further development of chiral lanthanide luminescent materials.