Near-infrared luminescent materials: a review of their practical applications and prospective advancements

and other ion-doped NIR fluorescent materials. The optical properties, enhancement mechanisms of NIR luminescence, and modulation strategies to adjust the emission wavelength of active ion-doped NIR luminescent materials are highlighted, respectively. We further elaborate on the possible solutions to the design of broadband NIR luminescent materials. This study aims to help researchers in related fields understand the current research status, challenges, and future development trends of RE ion-, TM ion-, and main-group ion-doped NIR luminescent materials.