The subject invention pertains to a method, apparatus, and composition of matter for producing near-infrared (near-IR) radiation. The subject invention can incorporate a polymer and a metal-containing compound, wherein the metal-containing compound can incorporate a metal-ligand complex, wherein when the metal-ligand complex becomes excited, energy is transferred from the ligand to the metal, wherein, the energy transferred to the metal by sensitization is emitted as near-infrared radiation. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a composition of matter having a luminescent polymer and a metal containing compound where the metal containing compound incorporates a metal-ligand complex such that the absorption spectrum of the metal-ligand complex at least partially overlaps with the emission spectrum of the luminescent polymer. As the absorption spectrum of the metal-ligand complex at least partially overlaps with the emission spectrum of the luminescent polymer, when the luminescent polymer becomes electronically excited energy can be transferred from the luminescent polymer to the metal-ligand complex. At least a portion of the energy transferred from the luminescent polymer to the metal-ligand complex can then be emitted by the metal-ligand complex as near-infrared radiation. The subject invention can incorporate polymers which are conjugated or non-conjugated and luminescent or non-luminescent. In a specific embodiment, conjugated polymers which are luminescent can be utilized.