A new path to design near-infrared persistent luminescence materials using Yb3+-doped rare earth oxysulfides.

Abstract RE 2 O 2 S:Yb3+ and RE 2 O 2 S:Yb3+,Ti,Mg2+ near-infrared persistent luminescence materials (RE3+: La, Gd, Y) were designed based on the efficient red-emitting RE 2 O 2 S:Eu3+,Ti,Mg2+, due to the similar ground state level positions between Eu3+ and Yb3+. The Y 2 O 2 S:Yb3+,Ti,Mg2+ showed the longest near-infrared (~983 nm) persistent luminescence time (~1 h) when excited at the charge transfer transition, demonstrating that Ti,Mg2+ co-doping enhances the persistent luminescence only for the Y 2 O 2 S host. The unprecedented relationship between Eu3+ and Yb3+ persistent luminescence opens a new path in the systematic design of efficient Yb3+-activated persistent luminescence materials e.g. Y 2 O 2 S:Yb3+,Ti,Mg2+, which present potential for photonic applications such as bioimaging probes. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]