Luminescent materials for 3D display technology

As an interesting fashioned and useful technology, three-dimensional (3D) display provides enhanced information for understanding and exhibition. Among the principles or concepts to realize 3D visualization, upconversion volumetric display and computer-generated holographic display are attractive and promising technologies without using eyewears. In these display systems, luminescent materials have been widely explored as display mediums, which are the key components in determining the quality of reconstructed images. This chapter deals with the luminescent materials for 3D display technology. We first explain the principles of upconversion 3D volumetric display and computer-generated holographic display, then describe the progress of luminescence materials as well as the criteria and concepts of materials design, and finally offer a summary with our perspective. Compared with the well-established applications of luminescence materials in lighting and display technologies, the use of luminescence materials in 3D display is in their infancy, yet has not been fully explored. We hope the chapter could evoke the research interest to design and develop luminescent materials toward real naked-eyes 3D display technology.