Lanthanide-doped nanoparticles (LnNPs) are promising for advanced photonic applications due to their unique optical properties. However, their practical implementation is hindered by surface quenching and weak absorption. Surface passivation through core–shell architectures is effective in mitigating quenching. However, it creates a fundamental trade-off by impeding molecular sensitization via energy transfer (ET) in the organic–inorganic hybrid systems. Here, we investigate this trade-off by fabricating core–shell LnNPs with precisely controlled shell thicknesses ranging from 0.8 to 3.0 nm. Surface passivation yields enhancements in 290-fold upconversion intensity and 25-fold downshifting intensity. Using 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid, we demonstrate that ET efficiency exhibits a nonmonotonic dependence on the shell thickness, with optimal performance achieved at a shell thickness of ∼0.8 nm. Through steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic studies, we elucidate the complex ET dynamics. Our findings reveal the optimal shell thickness and answer whether no shell is the best in this nanohybrid system.

Nowadays, scientists have carried out a large number of research on BTA organic passivation of pure copper23,30,32,34,38,41,42,44,45, brass36,37,39,48 and bronze24,49,50,51,52,53, but less research on BTA organic passivation of copper-nickel alloy. The content of Ni in B30 alloy is as high...

Nature, Published online: 27 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09773-7 All-perovskite tandem solar cells with dipolar passivation

The congestion and pollution of Earth orbit is quickly getting worse. We need to be able to quantify how our behaviour impacts the orbital environment in the future. To this end, the European Space Ag...

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Thiol-, thione-, and thiazoline-derived molecules have attracted considerable attention as additives and ligands for enhancing both the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we explore the use of a thiazoline-based co...

The efficiency of perovskite solar cells is constrained by surface and bulk recombination, along with poor band alignment at the interfaces of the transport layers. In our study, we demonstrate that m...

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