Achieving an Improved NIR Performance of Ca4–xSc2xZr1–xGe3O12:Cr3+ via [Sc3+-Sc3+]→[Ca2+-Zr4+]

High-performance near-infrared (NIR) light sources are highly sought after in advanced spectroscopy techniques, driving the development of NIR phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs). Escalating the luminescence intensity and thermal stability of NIR-emitting phosphors, which is a core component of NIR pc-LEDs, is of paramount importance. Herein, chemical unit cosubstitution and cosolvent addition tactics were implemented to simultaneously boost the NIR luminescence performance of the synthesized phosphors. The replacement of [Sc