Recent Advances and Emerging Applications of Lanthanide/Transition‐Metal‐Ion‐Doped Short‐Wave Infrared Luminescent Materials

Abstract Short‐wave infrared (SWIR, 900–1700 nm) luminescent materials have garnered significant attention because of their unique applications in night vision, non‐destructive identification, medical diagnostics, and related fields. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of SWIR luminescent materials, categorizing them based on their luminescent centers—lanthanide ions, transition metal ions, and ion‐pair co‐doping—with a focus on inorganic phosphors capable of efficiently converting blue excitation light to broadband SWIR emission. First, the luminescence properties of SWIR phosphors activated by lanthanide ions (Yb ³⁺ , Er ³⁺ , Nd ³⁺ , Pr ³⁺ , Tm ³⁺ , and Ho ³⁺ ) and transition metal ions (Mn ⁵⁺ , Mn ⁶⁺ , Cr ³⁺ , Cr ⁴⁺ , and Ni ²⁺ ) are comprehensively analyzed, encompassing excitation/emission wavelengths, full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM), internal/external quantum efficiencies, and thermal stability properties. Second, this review illustrates the SWIR luminescence behaviors of co‐doped systems that utilize Cr ³⁺ as a sensitizer. Furthermore, the optoelectronic characteristics of SWIR phosphor‐converted light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are examined, and the emerging applications of SWIR technology are critically assessed. Finally, current challenges and prospects for SWIR luminescent materials and phosphor‐converted LEDs are outlined, emphasizing critical optimization strategies to enhance material performance and broaden their practical applications.