Lanthanides as luminescence imaging reagents

Since their very first discovery, the luminescence properties of lanthanide (Ln) compounds have attracted the interest of researchers worldwide and have found numerous applications, particularly as very effective tools for luminescence imaging. Covering the whole spectral domain from the UV to the NIR, depending on the utilized Ln, this series of elements offers a unique palette of colors to play with. This article aims at summarizing the properties that make Ln compounds so effective for luminescence imaging, what kind of imaging applications can be developed based on these properties and how the chemists can play with the chemical composition of lanthanide compounds to optimize the imaging capabilities.