Lanthanide chelate emission properties

This comparison of the spectroscopic properties of the different types of fluorescent reporters underlines that semiconductor QDs and upconverting nanoparticles have no analogs in the field of organic dyes. Therefore, their unique features are unrivaled. The different molecular labels detailed here each display unique advantages that can compete with some of the favorable features of QDs and upconverting phosphors such as long lifetimes in the case of MLC systems and lanthanide chelates or very narrow emission bands for lanthanide chelates beneficial for spectral multiplexing. 

The spectroscopic properties of lanthanides in liquids are characterized by broad absorption and emission bands with line-widths that approach those in glasses. Lanthanide fluorescence in liquids is less prevalent than in solids because high frequency vibrations associated with the solvent cause non-radiative relaxation of excited electronic states. In chelates, the lanthanide ion is complexed to several organic groups or ligands. Chelates are soluble in many organic solvents. 

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