IR-780 iodide (99%), 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (99%), Y2O3 (99.9%), Yb2O3 (99.9%), Er2O3 (99.9%), CF3COONa (99.9%), CF3COOH, 1-octadecene (90%), oleic acid (90%), oleylamine (90%), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF, anhydrous, 99.8%), and dichloromethane (DCM, AR grade) were all purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and used without further purification. The lanthanide (Ln) trifluoroacetates, Ln(CF3COO)3, were prepared as described in the literature.10 (link)