Trivalent chromium ion doping garnet phosphor with broadband near-infrared emission for night-vision applications

Phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) with broadband near-infrared (NIR) emissions have garnered significant research interest. Their performance is primarily determined by the type of NIR phosphor used. Herein, a broadband NIR-emitting phosphor, Y₃Sc₂Al₃O₁₂:Cr³⁺, is synthesized. The blue-light excitation of the Y₃Sc₂Al₃O₁₂:Cr³⁺ phosphor produces a broadband emission spectrum ranging from 640 to 1000 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 113 nm. The NIR emission intensity maintains approximately 50% of the initial room-temperature intensity at 423 K. The structure–property relationship is also comprehensively studied. Encapsulating the as-obtained NIR phosphor into prototype pc-LEDs produces an NIR output power of 58.1 mW at a 1230 mA driving current and a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 3.5% at 30 mA. Finally, night-vision applications are implemented using the as-fabricated pc-NIR-LEDs device.