Ming, LiyanZabala Gutiérrez, IreneGómez Calderón, ÓscarMelle Hernández, SoniaXimendes , ErwingRubio Retama, Benito JorgeMarín, Riccardo2024-01-082024-01-082023-06-03Ming, Liyan, Zabala Gutiérrez, I., Gómez Calderón, Ó. et al. «A Brighter Era for Silver Chalcogenide Semiconductor Nanocrystals». Optical Materials, vol. 141, julio de 2023, p. 113940. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2023.113940.0925-346710.1016/j.optmat.2023.113940https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/91894Silver chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals (Ag2E SNCs) have become a household name in the biomedical field, where they are used as contrast agents in bioimaging, photothermal therapy agents, and luminescent nanothermometers. The prominent position they have come to occupy in this field stems from a unique combination of features, above all near-infrared excitation and emission alongside low cytotoxicity. However, the first reports on Ag2E SNCs showed that a great limitation of these luminescent nanomaterials resided in their low photoluminescence quantum yield, which results in reduced brightness: a crippling feature in bioimaging and biosensing. In this article, we provide an overview of the strategies developed to overcome this hurdle. These strategies aim to remedy the presence of defects in the SNC core and/or surface, the presence of metallic silver, and off-stoichiometric composition. These features stem from the high mobility and redox potential of Ag+ ions, alongside the difficulty in controlling the nucleation and growth rate of Ag2E SNCs. The effectiveness of each approach is discussed. Lastly, a perspective on future research efforts to make Ag2E SNCs even brighter – and thus more effective in biomedical applications – is provided, with the hope of inspiring further investigation on these nanomaterials with a rich, complex set of physicochemical and spectroscopic properties.engAttribution 4.0 Internationaljournal article1873-1252https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2023.113940https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925346723005128open access620.3621.315.5548:62-181.4SemiconductorNanocrystalsNanomaterialsAg2E SNCsBiomedicineÓptica (Física)Ciencias BiomédicasCristalografía (Química)2209 Óptica3312 Tecnología de Materiales2211.25 Semiconductores2211.04 Cristalografía