Emission Peak Research Articles

Comprehensive evaluation of a novel pilot-scale UVA-LED photoreactor for water treatment applications: Characterization, catalytic efficiency, energy performance and economic viability

A comprehensive assessment was conducted on a novel pilot plant employing a tubular photo-reactor configuration integrated with UVA-LED technology for advanced municipal wastewater treatment applications. The plant consists of eight UVA-LED strips (150 LEDs/strip, 348–400 nm with peak emission at 370 nm) achieving a maximum irradiance of 28.1 W/m2 at 100 % power of the LED, symmetrically distributed across two borosilicate tubes. The iron concentration (0.025–0.100 mM) and UVA-LED irradiance (1.4–28.1 W/m2) combined effect on the photo-Fenton process efficiency was thoroughly examined in synthetic tap water and synthetic municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP) secondary effluent using sulfamethoxazole as model microcontaminant. In general, an LED intensity threshold from which process efficiency reaches a plateau maximum value was found. The determination of the electrical energy per order (EEO) showed higher energy efficiencies as LED intensity decreases, iron concentration increases, and the water matrix is simpler. The lowest EEO obtained was 0.009 kWh/m3·order for 0.10 mM iron concentration in synthetic MWWTP secondary effluent at 5 % LED intensity. The economic study revealed that the weight of operating costs is more significant than the weight of investment costs, regardless of the selected operating conditions. Working with an iron concentration of 0.10 mM helps reduce the total costs, while operating either under excess LED intensity or insufficient LED intensity negatively impacts the total treatment cost. The lowest treatment cost (0.19 €/m3) was obtained with 0.10 mM iron concentration at only 10 % LED intensity. A comparison with the same process driven by natural solar radiation in a raceway pond reactor demonstrated the feasibility of the novel photo-reactor design in terms of treatment cost.

Wide Range Controllable Direction Single Emission Peak Microstructured Lasers Array

Wide Range Controllable Direction Single Emission Peak Microstructured Lasers Array

A Comparative Study on the Degradation of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange Dyes Under the Irradiation of Visible Light Using GO–CdO Nanocomposites

Cadmium oxide nanoparticles synthesized from alcoholic method using cadmium chloride monohydride and the composites with GO by simple dispersion method. Two nanocomposites with 5 Wt% and 10 Wt% loading of CdO over GO were prepared and named as GC1 and GC2 respectively. From XRD the CdO nanoparticles were of crystalline nature and were indexed to JCPDS card no: 05-0640 corresponding to Cubic lattice system. The particle like morphology of the CdO was confirmed by SEM and TEM. The decoration of monolayer GO sheets by CdO nanoparticles was unveiled through these studies. The Raman analysis reveals the presence of D and G peaks in the composites with an increased ID/IG ratio. UV-Vis study displays the absorption edge of CdO and a redshift is observed for GC2. From PL study, emission peak occurs at 358 nm for composites along with a quenching of intensity for GC2. The TG-DT analysis reveals the thermal stability of pristine and nanocomposites. Photocatalytic degradation of the as synthesized samples was studied for Methylene orange and Methylene blue dye using a Xenon lamp with 500 W. The degradation of the GC2 happens in 90 minutes with degradation efficiency 73% of was achieved for Methyl Orange dye. For Methylene blue the GC2 sample degrades only in 30 minutes with an efficiency of 94% was achieved.

Exploring the dynamic evolutionary trajectories for urban residential building carbon emissions toward 2060: Evidence from the HSCW zone in China

Revealing the long-term development trajectory and peak scenarios of the urban residential building sector is crucial for formulating targeted emission reduction strategies and contributing to achieving the “Dual carbon” target. Given that, significant variables affecting carbon emissions from urban residential buildings (URBCE) at both macro and end-use building levels are identified in this study. Furthermore, an innovative dynamic simulation model is developed by integrating the Monte Carlo simulation model with the Kaya identity model, taking into account the uncertainties of the variables. Subsequently, the long-term evolution trajectories, potential emission peaks, and peak time of the URBCE close to 2060 in China’s hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) zone are simulated. Results indicate that URBCE is expected to reach its peak of 272.43 Mt CO2 in 2040 under the baseline scenario. Through the dynamic simulation, the probable peak time of energy consumption in the HSCW zone is 2044 (±1.85), with a peak of 145.42 (±6.91) Mtce, and the possible peak time of carbon emissions is probably 2039 (±1.60), with a peak of 271.93 (±13.40) Mt CO2. According to dynamic sensitivity analysis, carbon emission factor, per capita residential space, and heating energy intensity can promote the peak size and timing. These findings lay a robust foundation for the formulation of regionally specific carbon reduction targets and initiatives.

Synthesis and Characterization of Multiple Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescent Polymer Hydrogels Based on Terpyridine and N-isopropylacrylamide

A series of stimuli-responsive fluorescent hydrogels were successfully synthesized via micelle radical copolymerization of hydrophilic acrylamide (AM), hydrophobic chromophore terpyridine-based monomer (TPY), and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). These hydrogels presented blue emissions (423–440 nm) under room temperature, which is caused by the π-π* transition of the conjugated structures. Once the ambient temperature was increased to 55 °C, the fluorescence color changed from blue (430 nm) to pink (575 nm) within 10 min, subsequently to yellow (535 nm), and eventually back to pink. The thermal-responsive properties are attributed to the transition of the TPY units from unimer to dimer aggregation via the intermolecular charge transfer complex at high temperatures. The hydrogels showed pH-responsive properties. The emission peak of the hydrogel exhibited a blue shift of ~54 nm from neuter conditions to acidic conditions, while a 6 nm red shift to an alkaline environment was observed. The hydrogels demonstrated an obvious change in fluorescence intensity and wavelength upon adding different metal ions, which is caused by the coordination between the terpyridine units incorporated on the backbones and the metal ions. As a consequence, the hydrogels presented a sharp quenching fluorescence interaction with Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Co2+, while it exhibited an enhanced fluorescence intensity interaction with Sn2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+. The microstructural, mechanical, and rheological properties of these luminescent hydrogels have been systematically investigated.

Bicone nanoflower evolution and multi-peak emission of polymer caped Cu doped ZnO.

A low-temperature polymer-assisted wet chemical method was used to synthesise Cu-doped ZnO bicone nanoflowers at three different PEG concentrations.The effects of PEG concentration on the structural, morphological and optical properties of Cu doped ZnO nanostructures were studied. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the as-synthesized ZnO nanostructures are highly crystalline with a hexagonal wurtzite phase. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the prepared nanostructures have bicone-nanoflower morphology and PEG concentration has strongly influenced the size as well the shape of nanoflowers. The surface passivation effect of PEG on the band gap energies was studied by analysing UV -visible spectra of all the samples. The room-temperature fluorescent spectra of all the nanoflowers showed multiple peak emissions, both in the ultra-violet and visible regions, with varying intensities.These recasted multiple peaks are attributed to the morphological modification caused by the PEG addition.&#xD.

Achieving Record External Quantum Efficiency of 11.5 % in Solution-Processable Deep-Blue Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Utilizing Hot Exciton Mechanism.

High performance solution-processable deep-blue emitters with a Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinate of CIEy≤0.08 are highly desired in ultrahigh-definition display. Although, deep-blue materials with hybridized local and charge-transfer (HLCT) excited-state feature are promising candidates, their rigidity and planar molecular structures limit their application in solution-processing technique. Herein, four novel deep-blue solution-processable HLCT emitters were first proposed by attaching rigid imide aliphatic rings as functional units onto the HLCT emitting core. The functional units not only improve solubility, enhance thermal properties and morphological stability of the emitting core, but also promote photoluminescence efficiency, balance charge carrier transport, and inhibit aggregation-caused quenching effect due to the weak electron-withdrawing property as well as steric hindrance. The corresponding solution-processable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) substantiate an unprecedented maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 11.5 % with an emission peak at 456 nm and excellent colour purity (full width at half maximum=56 nm and CIEy=0.09). These efficiencies represent the state-of-the-art device performance among the solution-processable blue OLEDs based on the "hot exciton" mechanism. This simple strategy opens up a new avenue for designing highly efficient solution-processable deep-blue organic luminescent materials.

Achieving Record External Quantum Efficiency of 11.5 % in Solution‐Processable Deep‐Blue Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes Utilizing Hot Exciton Mechanism

AbstractHigh performance solution‐processable deep‐blue emitters with a Commission International de l′Eclairage (CIE) coordinate of CIEy≤0.08 are highly desired in ultrahigh‐definition display. Although, deep‐blue materials with hybridized local and charge‐transfer (HLCT) excited‐state feature are promising candidates, their rigidity and planar molecular structures limit their application in solution‐processing technique. Herein, four novel deep‐blue solution‐processable HLCT emitters were first proposed by attaching rigid imide aliphatic rings as functional units onto the HLCT emitting core. The functional units not only improve solubility, enhance thermal properties and morphological stability of the emitting core, but also promote photoluminescence efficiency, balance charge carrier transport, and inhibit aggregation‐caused quenching effect due to the weak electron‐withdrawing property as well as steric hindrance. The corresponding solution‐processable organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) substantiate an unprecedented maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 11.5 % with an emission peak at 456 nm and excellent colour purity (full width at half maximum=56 nm and CIEy=0.09). These efficiencies represent the state‐of‐the‐art device performance among the solution‐processable blue OLEDs based on the “hot exciton” mechanism. This simple strategy opens up a new avenue for designing highly efficient solution‐processable deep‐blue organic luminescent materials.

Novel single phase warm white-emitting phosphor BaLaGaO4:Dy3+,Sm3+ with high thermal stability and color stability

In this study, new phosphors BaLaGaO4 (BLGO) doped with dysprosium (Dy3+) and samarium (Sm3+) ions were created using a high-temperature solid-state method. Characterizations with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and elemental mapping revealed successful doping and uniform elemental distribution. Then the samples were tested for photoluminescence (PL) spectra, the results indicated that the BaLaGaO4:xDy3+ (BLGO:xDy3+) phosphors emitted strong blue and yellow light upon excitation at 350 nm. The emission peaks were located at 480 and 572 nm, respectively. By introducing different proportions of Sm3+ ions, the BaLaGaO4:0.04Dy3+,ySm3+ (BLGO:0.04Dy3+,ySm3+) samples could be excited at 365 nm, and enhancing the red emission component of the phosphor. Meantime, with increasing Sm3+ content, the correlated color temperature (CCT) decreased from 5507 to 3767 K. And the emission spectrum and decay lifetime of BLGO:0.04Dy3+,ySm3+ confirmed the energy transfer from Dy3+ to Sm3+. Furthermore, at 423 K, the luminous intensity of BLGO:0.04Dy3+,0.04Sm3+ retained 86 % of its strength at 298 K, and the chromaticity shift (ΔS) was only 0.00574, which indicated that the sample had excellent thermal stability and excellent color stability. Finally, using the prepared sample and a 365 nm light-emitting diode (LED) chip, a white light-emitting diode (WLED) was fabricated. The CCT of the manufactured WLED also showed a corresponding reduction (from 3423 to 2814 K). Moreover, under the working conditions of 3.4 V and 0.6A, the thermal imaging obtained after 90 min of WLED operation shows the stability of the packaged WLED at high temperature. These researches show that the phosphor has potential application value in indoor lighting technologies.

Effect of temperature on GaN-integrated optical transceiver chips

The gallium nitride (GaN) integrated optical transceiver chip based on multiple quantum wells (MQW) structure exhibits great promise in the fields of communication and sensing. In this Letter, the effect of ambient temperature on the performance of GaN-integrated optical transceiver chips including a blue MQW light-emitting diode (LED) and a MQW photodiode (PD) is comprehensively studied. Temperature-dependent light-emitting and current–voltage characteristics of the blue MQW LEDs are measured with the ambient temperature ranging from –70°C to 120°C. The experimental results reveal a decline in the electroluminescent (EL) intensity and an obvious redshift in the emission peak wavelength of the LED with increasing ambient temperature. The light detection performance of MQW PD under different temperatures is also measured with the illumination of an external blue MQW LED, indicating an enhancement in the PD sensitivity as the temperature rises. Finally, the temperature effect on the MQW PD under the illumination of the MQW LED on the GaN-integrated optical transceiver chip is characterized, and the PD photocurrent increases with higher ambient temperature. Furthermore, the measured temperature characteristics indicate that the GaN-integrated optical transceiver chip offers a promising application potential for optoelectronic temperature sensor.

Development of a new class of temperature-sensitive paints operating in the green spectrum of light for aerodynamic flow applications

Temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) is widely used in aerodynamic measurements, such as detecting laminar to turbulent transition locations, heat transfer measurements, etc. Most conventional TSP luminophores are Ruthenium and Europium complexes, whose peak absorption wavelengths occur at UV or blue spectrum of light. A new class of TSP is developed based on eosin Y as a luminophore. Eosin Y has peak emission and absorption wavelength in the green spectrum, allowing employment of conventional (Nd-YAG) lasers and scientific cameras in aerodynamic applications. The paint achieved a temperature sensitivity of 0.9 % /K, comparable to Rhodamine B based TSP, which operates in the green spectrum. The performance of the TSP is compared with the temperature and its gradient measured using an infrared camera (serving as a reference). The capability of the TSP is tested in three configurations of increasing complexity. The paint successfully detects the laminar to turbulent transition location (third configuration), indicating its promise as an addition to the existing ones for aerodynamic applications.

Ratiometric fluorescence method comprising carbon dots and rhodamine 6G encapsulated in metal-organic framework microcubes for curcumin detection.

A ratiometric fluorescence method comprising carbon dots (CDs) and rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G) encapsulated in the microcubes of metal-organic framework (MOF-5) is introduced for the sensitive detection of curcumin (Cur) in condiments. CDs@MOF-5@Rh-6G, synthesized by the adsorption of Rh-6G on MOF-5 embedded with CDs, showed two distinct emission peaks at 435 and 560nm under excitation at 335nm, and could be used for Cur detection by ratiometric fluorescence. In the presence of Cur, the fluorescence of the CDs at 435nm (F435) was quenched by Cur owing to internal filtering and dynamic quenching effects, whereas the emission of Rh-6G at 560nm (F560) remained unchanged (335nm is the excitation wavelength, 435 and 560nm are the emission wavelengths, in which F435/F560 values are used as the output results). Under optimal conditions, a linear relationship was observed between the Cur concentration (in the range 0.1-5μmol/L) and F435/F560 value for CDs@MOF-5@Rh-6G, with a detection limit of 15nmol/L. Notably, the proposed method could accurately detect Cur in mustard, curry, and red pepper powders. Therefore, this study could improvethe quality control of food and facilitate the development of sensitive ratiometric fluorescence probes.

Excitation power-dependent multicolor upconversion in NaLnF4:Er3+ under 1532 nm irradiation for anti-counterfeiting application

Upconversion (UC) materials are renowned for their ability to convert low-energy photons into high-energy ones. The manipulation of parameters allows for the observation of multicolored UC luminescence (UCL) within a single material system. While modulation of multicolored UCL commonly relies on excitation at approximately 980 nm, investigation into multicolored UC materials activated by a 1532 nm excitation source remains comparatively scarce. In this work, we introduce NaLnF4:Er3+ as a novel class of smart luminescent materials. When the power density of a 1532 nm laser increases from 0.5 to 20.0 W/cm2, the emission peak positions remain unchanged, but the red-to-green (R/G) ratio decreases significantly from 18.82 to 1.48, inducing a color shift from red to yellow and ultimately to green. In contrast, no color variation is observed when NaLnF4:Er3+ is excited with a 980 nm laser at different power densities. This power-dependent multicolored UCL of NaLnF4:Er3+ excited at 1532 nm can be attributed to the competitive processes of upward pumping and downward relaxation of electrons on the 4I9/2 level of Er3+. By utilizing the unique UC characteristics of NaLnF4:Er3+, its potential utility in anti-counterfeiting applications is demonstrated. Our research highlights the distinctive optical properties of NaLnF4:Er3+ and provides novel insights into the use of luminescent materials in optical anti-counterfeiting technologies.

Optimizing luminescent properties of ZnO: Er3+ through temperature and dopant variation: XRD and emission spectroscopy studies

This study focuses on optimizing the synthesis conditions for the luminescent properties of ZnO:Er3[Formula: see text], a key step toward improving its applicability in optoelectronics. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns at [Formula: see text]C with Er3[Formula: see text] dopant concentrations (1, 3 and 5[Formula: see text]wt.%) show the preservation of the crystalline phase of ZnO, indicating that the dopants did not affect the structural integrity. Luminescence properties were observed in ZnO with 1[Formula: see text]wt.% erbium doping at 900–[Formula: see text]C, with the sample at [Formula: see text]C exhibiting the highest emission peak at 533[Formula: see text]nm. The optimal conditions for significant luminescence were identified at [Formula: see text]C, with 5[Formula: see text]wt.% Er3[Formula: see text] showing the most pronounced effect. The practical implications of the achievement of optimal luminescence in ZnO:Er3[Formula: see text] are profound for optoelectronics. These conditions are critical for efficient light-emitting devices, particularly in applications such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers, where emission characteristics have a direct impact on performance. In addition, the enhanced luminescence holds great promise for sensors, especially in biomedical and environmental monitoring, as well as in quantum technologies. It contributes to the advancement of quantum sensors and quantum computing applications. This research provides a basis for tailoring the properties of ZnO:Er3[Formula: see text] for specific applications by identifying optimal luminescence conditions at different dopant concentrations. While the identification of optimal conditions has been successful, further research is essential to unravel the underlying mechanisms at the atomic and molecular levels. Overcoming these challenges and exploring additional applications will be critical to realizing the practical impact of these findings in various technological fields, as the study paves the way for advances in optoelectronics, sensing, and quantum information processing.

Neutral Cyanine: Ultra-Stable NIR-II Merocyanines for Highly Efficient Bioimaging and Tumor-Targeted Phototheranostics.

Fluorescence imaging-guided phototheranostics using emission from the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window show significant potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Clinical imaging-used polymethine ionic indocyanine green (ICG) dye is widely adopted for NIR fluorescence imaging-guided photothermal therapy research due to its exceptional photophysical properties. However, ICG has limitations such as poor photostability, low photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), short-wavelength emission peak, and liver-targeting issues, which restrict its wider use. In this study, we transformed two ionic ICG derivatives into neutral merocyanines (mCy) to achieve much enhanced performance for NIR-II cancer phototheranostics. Initial designs of two ionic dyes showed similar drawbacks as ICG in terms of poor photostability and low photothermal performance. One of the modified neutral molecules, mCy890, shows significantly improved stability, an emission peak over 1000nm, and a high photothermal PCE of 51%, all considerably outperform ICG. In vivo studies demonstrated that nanoparticles of the mCy890 can effectively accumulate at the tumor sites for cancer photothermal therapy guided by NIR-II fluorescence imaging. This research provides valuable insights into the development of neutral merocyanines for enhanced cancer phototheranostics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Agricultural Carbon Emissions in China: Estimation, Influencing Factors, and Projection of Peak Emissions

Agricultural Carbon Emissions in China: Estimation, Influencing Factors, and Projection of Peak Emissions

Brightening deep-blue perovskite light-emitting diodes: A path to Rec. 2020.

Deep-blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) of high purity are highly sought after for next-generation displays complying with the Rec. 2020 standard. However, mixed-halide perovskite materials designed for deep-blue emitters are prone to halide vacancies, which readily occur because of the low formation energy of chloride vacancies. This degrades bandgap instability and performance. Here, we propose a chloride vacancy-targeting passivation strategy using sulfonate ligands with different chain lengths. The sulfonate groups have a strong affinity for lead(II) ions, effectively neutralizing vacancies. Our strategy successfully suppressed phase segregation, yielding color-stable deep-blue PeLEDs with an emission peak at 461 nanometers and a maximum luminance (Lmax) of 2707 candela per square meter with external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 3.05%, one of the highest for Rec. 2020 standard-compliant deep-blue PeLEDs. We also observed a notable increase in EQE up to 5.68% at Lmax of 1978 candela per square meter with an emission peak at 461 nanometers by changing the carbon chain length.

Exploring the Evolution Trend of China’s Digital Carbon Footprint: A Simulation Based on System Dynamics Approach

The rapid growth of the digital economy has heightened concerns over its environmental impacts, particularly in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. In contrast to previous studies that focus on the positive effects of digital technology on reducing carbon emissions, this paper provides a detailed analysis of the various factors that influence digital economy carbon emissions and their interrelationships, using the system dynamics method to simulate and predict China’s future digital economy carbon emission baseline from 2016 to 2046. Four different scenarios were established by adjusting parameters for the percentage of the digital economy, e-waste growth rate, and data center power consumption. The simulation results indicate the following: (1) The baseline scenario shows China’s digital economy carbon emissions peaking at 1.9045 billion tons in 2041 after an initial increase and subsequent decrease. (2) Single-policy simulations indicate that changing the digital economy’s scale and e-waste growth independently leads to peak emissions of 1.9205 billion tons and 1.5525 billion tons, respectively. Adjusting data center power consumption has a greater impact, increasing the peak emissions to 2.1675 billion tons, a 13.82% rise from the baseline. (3) Under the comprehensive regulation scenario, emissions peak in 2040 at 2.0813 billion tons, considering the interactions between the digital economy, data center power, and e-waste. Based on the findings, we recommend fostering innovation in the digital industry, enhancing the e-waste treatment process, strategically developing digital infrastructure, and exploring effective carbon reduction strategies for the digital economy aimed at supporting China in achieving its dual-carbon goals.

Photoluminescence-based biosensor for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins by ZnO tetrapod structure integrated within microfluidic system.

This paper reports on development of an optical biosensor for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins in blood serum. ZnO nanotetrapods with high surface area and stable room temperature photoluminescence (PL) were selected as transducers. Structure and optical properties of the ZnO tetrapods have been studied by XRD, SEM and Raman spectroscopy. Crystallinity, dimensions and emission peaks of the ZnO tetrapods were determined. The ZnO tetrapods were fixed on glass chip. Silanization of ZnO tetrapods surface resulted in forming of functional surface groups suitable for the immobilization of bioselective layer. Two types of recombinant proteins (rS and rN) have been used to form bioselective layer on the surface of the ZnO tetrapods. Flow through microfluidic system, integrated with optical system, has been used for the determination of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins present in blood samples. The SARS-CoV-2 probes, prepared in PBS solution, have been injected into the measurement chamber with a constant pumping speed. Steady-state photoluminescence spectra and photoluminescence kinetics have been studied before and after injection of the probes. The biosensor signal has been tested to anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the range of 0.001 nM-1 nM. Control measurements have been performed with blood serum of healthy person. Sensitivity tests showed that ZnO-SARS-CoV-2-rS and ZnO-SARS-CoV-2-rN biosensors showed sensitivity to proteins showed higher stability and sensitivity to anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the range of 0.025-0.5 nM (LOD 0.01 nM) and 0.3-1 nM (LOD 0.3 nM), respectively. Gibbs free energy of interaction between ZnO/SARS-CoV-2-rS and ZnO/SARS-CoV-2-rN bioselective layers with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies showed -35.5 and -21.4 kJ/mol, respectively. Average detection time of biosensor integrated within microfluidic system was 15-20 min. The detection time and pumping speed (50 μl/min) could be reduced to make detection faster. The developed system and ZnO-SARS-CoV-2-rS nanostructures have good potential for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from patient's probes.

Highly Efficient and Thermally Stable Broadband NIR Phosphors with Superlong Afterglow Performance and their Multifunctional Applications

AbstractNear‐infrared (NIR) phosphor‐converted light‐emitting diodes (pc‐LEDs) are considered as promising next‐generation light sources for optoelectronic and biomedical applications. Nevertheless, NIR phosphors with large bandwidths, long emission peaks, high external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) and valuable thermal stabilities are challenging to develop. Herein, this study reports a novel gallium germanate host, Ga3Al3Ge2O13 (GAGO), with a large bandgap and rigid host lattice for Cr3+ ion doping. The blue LED excitable GAGO:0.012Cr3+ phosphor can produce broadband NIR emission with a maximum intensity at 816 nm and a full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of 187 nm. Notably, the phosphor also exhibits an excellent EQE of 35.8% and perfect thermal stability (I423 K/I298 K = 67.4%). Moreover, an attractive NIR afterglow duration of more than 24 h is achieved in the GAGO:0.004Cr3+ phosphor. The type and origin of the traps are discussed, and a possible long persistent luminescent (LPL) mechanism is proposed. Finally, an NIR pc‐LED based on a GAGO:0.012Cr3+ phosphor is fabricated. The results demonstrate that the obtained phosphors show great potential for use in night vision, nondestructive detection, bioimaging and information encryption. This study provides new insight into the development of broadband NIR luminescent materials with high efficiency, good thermal stability and extraordinary afterglow performance.