Selective energy transfer via chromium clusters for high-performance blue-excitable shortwave infrared phosphors

Transitions within the 4f subshell microstates enable rare earth elements (REEs) to emit visible or infrared light, underpinning significant advances in photonic technologies. The narrow and weak absorption bands of REEs, stemming from Laporte-forbidden 4f–4f transitions, limit their photoluminescence efficiency, particularly in shortwave infrared (SWIR, 900–1700 nm) applications. Here, we report the development of partially inverse spinel-type MgGa2O4 phosphors co-doped with Cr3+ and Er3+, achieving a record-high internal quantum efficiency of 68.8 % with narrowband emission centered at 1547 nm under 460 nm blue-light excitation. Building upon this result, we further incorporated Ni2+ ions to modulate energy transfer pathways and achieve highly efficient broad-band SWIR emission. These two distinct phosphor systems demonstrate complementary optical functionalities, offering a versatile platform for the rational design of SWIR-emissive materials tailored to specific photonic applications. That dataset provides the raw data of room temperature excitation spectra visible and near-infrared room-temperature emission spectra and decay profiles, temperature-dependent photoluminescence in near-infrared and visible range and decay profiles, and high-pressure-dependent near-infrared photoluminescence of MgGa2O4:xCr3+, yEr3+, x=0.02, 0.06, y=0.0, 0.020, 0.028. That dataset provides the raw data of :- RT PL and PLE spectra of MGO:0.06Cr3+,0.012Ni2+,0.020Er3+ (MGO:Cr,Ni,Er), MGO:0.06Cr3+ (MGO:Cr), MGO:0.012Ni2+ (MGO:Ni), MGO:0.02Er3+ (MGO:Er)- Temperature-dependent PL spectra of MGO:Cr,Ni,Er, MGO:Cr, MGO:Ni, MGO:Er- Pressure-dependent PL spectra of MGO:Cr,Ni,Er- Pressure-dependent PLE spectra of MGO:Cr,Ni,Er Associated publication:S.-E. Chen, K.-C. Chen, C.-F. Tsao, Y.-C. Huang, A. Lazarowska, M. Kamiński, N. Majewska, T. Leśniewski, G. Leniec, E. Mijowska, D.-H. Cherng, T.-W. Yeh, S. Mahlik and R.-S. Liu, Selective energy transfer via chromium clusters for high-performance blue-excitable shortwave infrared phosphors, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025, 526, 170792. Funding:This work was financially supported by the National Science and Technology Council in Taiwan (Contract Nos. NSTC 114-2113-M-002-001 and NSTC 114-2923-M-002-010), the National Science Center Poland (Grant Opus No. 2024/53/B/ST3/01656), and the National Centre for Research and Development Poland (Grant No. POLTAJ11/2023/41/IRPA/2024)