The electronic structure of CdSe semiconductor nanocrystals has been used to sensitize Tb3+ in solution by incorporation of Tb3+ cations into the nanocrystals during synthesis. Doping of luminescent Tb3+ metal ions in semiconductor nanocrystals utilizes the positive attributes of both species' photophysical properties, resulting in a final product with long luminescence lifetimes, sharp emission bands, high absorptivities, and strong resistance to decomposition. This strategy also helps protect the lanthanide cations from nonradiative deactivation from C-H, N-H, and O-H oscillators of solvent molecules or traditional organic lanthanide ligands, leading to long Tb3+ luminescence lifetimes. This new type of nanomaterial synergistically combines the photophysical properties of nanocrystals and Tb3+.