Up　to　now,　most　of　the　emisison　wavelengths　of　the　reported　scintillators　are　located　in　ultra-violet　(UV)　or　visible　range.　Herein,　to　further　expand　the　X-ray　excited　fluorescence　emission　spectrum,　an　active　core/dual-shell　nanocrystal　(NC)　architecture　is　used　to　actualize　near-infrared　scintillation.　Specifically,　under　the　X-ray　excitation,　near-infrared　emission　from　Nd3+　ions　at　~1064　and　Yb3+　ions　at　980　nm　are　achieved.　The　active　outer　shell　with　the　incorporation　of　Ce3+　sensitizer　ions　benefited　the　enhancement　of　X-ray　excited　NIR　fluorescence　emission　intensity　owing　to　the　enhanced　energy　transfer　efficiency　from　Ce3+　to　Nd3+　or　Yb3+　emission　centers.　The　present　studied　near-infrared　NC　scintillator　have　deeper　penetration　depth　than　that　of　UV　and　visible,　which　might　be　useful　for　X-ray　imaging　with　improved　sensitivity.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.