Penetrating Biological Tissue Using Light-Emitting Diodes with a Highly Efficient Near-Infrared ScBO₃:Cr³⁺ Phosphor

Recently, infrared (IR) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have attracted considerable interest in the research field worldwide. IR phosphors, the basic materials utilized in LEDs, have become a research hotspot as well. Here, we introduce the high-quantum-efficiency IR ScBO3:Cr3+ phosphor, which provides a spectral range of emission from 700 to 1000 nm with a peak maximum at 800 nm. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, with high element selectivity, was used to elucidate the unusual small peak in the photoluminescence spectrum. Phonon structure and electron–lattice interaction were well observed and discussed via temperature-dependent measurements. Moreover, the high quantum efficiency of 72.8% was achieved. To evaluate their potential practical application, phosphor-converted LED packages were designed, which revealed high stability and high output power of 39.11 mW. Furthermore, the fabricated IR LED demonstrated a remarkable ability to penetrate biological tissues. This study provides insights into the luminescent properties and the practical applications of IR LEDs.