Heterogeneous “Battery–Bulb” Coupling: Energy Transfer Mechanism from ZnGa ₂ O ₄ :Mn ²⁺ → La ₂ MgTiO ₆ :Er ³⁺ and NIR-IIb Afterglow Imaging

Traditional luminescent probes for long-term, zero-background, and high-resolution imaging of deep tumors are still constrained by three core bottlenecks: insufficient long persistent luminescence (LPL) duration, autofluorescence interference, and inadequate emission wavelength. We propose a “long persistent luminescence-perovskite heterogeneous coupling” strategy and construct ZnGa 2 O 4:Mn 2+ /La 2 MgTiO 6:Er 3+ (ZGOM/LMTOE) nanocomposites via a hydrothermal-co-precipitation method. Herein, ZGOM serves as a recyclable “energy storage unit”, while LMTOE acts as an “optical emission unit”. Through interfacial resonance energy transfer across materials (254 nm→500 nm→1545 nm), LMTOE emits near-infrared-IIb (NIR-IIb, 1500–1700 nm) persistent luminescence without in situ excitation, with a persistent luminescence lifetime of up to 15 min. This system enables the construction of an in vivo “wireless luminescent unit” characterized by “one-time charging and continuous luminescence”. We successfully achieved NIR-IIb afterglow imaging of subcutaneous tumors in mice. This work addresses the technical gap where a single material cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of “deep penetration, long persistence, and zero background“, and provides a material paradigm for the precision diagnosis and treatment of deep lesions.