Lanthanide‐Doped Photo‐Stimulated Luminescence Materials: From Trap Manipulation to Applications

ABSTRACT Lanthanide‐doped photo‐stimulated luminescence (PSL) phosphors, as one of the most prominent electron‐trapping materials, have emerged as a highly attractive class of luminescent materials in recent decades. These phosphors exhibit unique optical properties resulting from their ability to store charge carriers and subsequently release energy upon photo‐stimulation. Such distinctive features of energy storage and controllable release have driven significant interest in lanthanide‐doped PSL phosphors, owing to their vast potential in diverse applications such as optical data storage, security encoding, and bioimaging. Recent advancements in synthesis methodologies and characterization tools have significantly deepened the understanding of the photophysical and photochemical behaviors of PSL phosphors, thus expanding their application scope. Consequently, there is an urgent need to update the knowledge in this rapidly evolving field. This review aims to highlight the latest achievements in the luminescence mechanisms, trap manipulation strategies, and emerging applications of lanthanide‐doped PSL phosphors. Furthermore, we discuss the main challenges and propose future research directions for this dynamic domain.