Core Viewpoint - The research team led by Professor Xu Hui from Heilongjiang University has achieved a significant breakthrough in electroluminescent rare earth nanocrystals, marking the first publication from the university in the prestigious journal Nature, which is a historic milestone for the province's chemistry discipline [1]. Group 1: Research Background and Innovation - The idea originated in 2011 during a conversation at the National University of Singapore, where Professor Xu and collaborator Professor Wang Feng aimed to enable electroluminescence in inherently insulating rare earth nanocrystals, which have been a global challenge due to their inability to inject charge [2][3]. - The team proposed an innovative solution by creating "photoelectric bridges" on the surface of the nanocrystals using specially designed functional ligands, inspired by natural photosynthesis, allowing for efficient energy transfer [3][4]. Group 2: Research Achievements - After 14 years of collaborative research, the team developed green electroluminescent devices with an external quantum efficiency of 5.9%, a 76-fold increase compared to non-functionalized nanocrystal devices [4]. - The devices can achieve continuous and precise tuning of light from green to warm white and near-infrared by simply adjusting the doped rare earth ions without altering the device structure, challenging the traditional notion that insulators cannot exhibit electroluminescence [4]. Group 3: Future Directions - The research team aims to further enhance the brightness, efficiency, and stability of their technology, with plans for applications in display technology, biomedical imaging, and wearable devices, transforming their 14-year effort into a driving force for economic and social development [6].