“…Its absorption cross-section (∼6×10 −16 cm 2 ) is around 30000-times higher than that of Nd 3+ ions (∼2×10 −20 cm 2 ) at 808 nm, thus efficient photosensitization of UCNCs is expected 21 . Moreover, the dye molecules with absorption bands in visible wavelengths can be utilized for sensitizing other luminescent Ln 3+ ions such as Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ , as well as designing upconversion luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) sensors [22][23][24][25] , and down-conversion NCs [26][27][28] . Although coating the UCNCs with a protective un-doped shell has been recognized as a robust strategy for minimizing the surface quenching of the lanthanide ions and enhancing BUC and , the inert shell has an adverse effect on the dye-sensitized UC emission since it blocks the energy transfer from the dye to UCNCs 23,29 .…”