Impurity
doping is a promising method to impart new properties
to various materials. Due to their unique optical, magnetic, and electrical
properties, rare-earth ions have been extensively explored as active
dopants in inorganic crystal lattices since the 18th century. Rare-earth
doping can alter the crystallographic phase, morphology, and size,
leading to tunable optical responses of doped nanomaterials. Moreover,
rare-earth doping can control the ultimate electronic and catalytic
performance of doped nanomaterials in a tunable and scalable manner,
enabling significant improvements in energy harvesting and conversion.
A better understanding of the critical role of rare-earth doping is
a prerequisite for the development of an extensive repertoire of functional
nanomaterials for practical applications. In this review, we highlight
recent advances in rare-earth doping in inorganic nanomaterials and
the associated applications in many fields. This review covers the
key criteria for rare-earth doping, including basic electronic structures,
lattice environments, and doping strategies, as well as fundamental
design principles that enhance the electrical, optical, catalytic,
and magnetic properties of the material. We also discuss future research
directions and challenges in controlling rare-earth doping for new
applications.