In November 2025, a research team from Heilongjiang University and Tsinghua University in the Chinese mainland, together with the National University of Singapore, unveiled a breakthrough in lighting technology: a molecular coating that lets rare earth nanocrystals—long hailed for their pure, stable glow—light up directly with electricity.
Rare earth nanocrystals have powered high-end lighting and displays thanks to their vibrant hues and energy efficiency. Yet their insulating nature has kept them out of everyday devices like LEDs and OLEDs, where electric current must flow freely.
Han Sanyang, an associate professor at Tsinghua University, compares the insulating barrier to wearing a heavy winter coat—electricity just can’t penetrate to activate the glow.
The team tackled this challenge by designing an energy-conversion layer—a specialized molecular coating that wraps each nanocrystal. This layer captures electrical energy and funnels it directly into the rare earth elements, which then emit light effortlessly and with tunable, high-purity colors.
Early tests show these coated nanocrystals can produce a spectrum of colors on demand, paving the way for applications in human health monitoring, non-invasive testing, crop supplemental lighting, and beyond. The researchers are now refining the technology for healthcare devices and infrared uses.
As the demand for compact, efficient lighting and sensing devices grows, this electroluminescent breakthrough could shine bright across industries.
Reference(s):
Scientists design coating for rare earth materials to glow with power
cgtn.com
