Recent progress in photofunctional lanthanide hybrid materials

This critical review mainly focuses on recent research progress in photofunctional lanthanide hybrid materials. The review covers hybrids with complexes of organically modified silanes as precursors for sol–gel processing, hybrids with lanthanide complex units grafted onto the interior of mesoporous hosts, hybrids with lanthanide complex units on polymer chains, and other non-silica or composite-based lanthanide hybrids. The photophysical properties of lanthanide hybrids are also discussed. Finally, future challenges and opportunities in this field are discussed.