NIR Persistent Luminescence

The allure of long-afterglow materials lies in their ability to emit light for extended durations, ranging from minutes to even hours, after being exposed to external energy sources such as UV–VIS radiation, high-energy rays, or electron beams. In comparison to other fluorescent labels, near-infrared fluorescent nanomaterials possess a unique delayed detection mode that eliminates the requirement for additional light sources during image acquisition. This exceptional property not only safeguards biological tissue but also reduces background signals while enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio—a valuable asset in the field of biomedical imaging technology. This paper extensively discusses the development process of red and near-infrared afterglow nanomaterials, elucidates the mechanism evolution of afterglow nanomaterials, presents the synthesis scheme of nanomaterials along with key achievements, highlights major challenges encountered during the development process and provides corresponding solutions. We firmly believe that these distinctive long-afterglow materials will continue to radiate infinite vitality through their captivating luminescent phenomenon.