Luminescent layered composition and a method for using the composition

A composition, comprising:

• a first layer comprising a first substrate and a first dopant;
• a second layer in direct physical contact with the first layer, the second layer comprising a second substrate and a second dopant;
• and
• a third layer in direct physical contact with the second layer and not in direct physical contact with the first layer, the third layer comprising a third substrate and optionally a third dopant;
• wherein each of the first, second and third dopants, if present, independently comprises a lanthanide ion, NIR emitting dye, or a combination thereof, and the second dopant is different from the first and third dopants, if present;
• and
• wherein each of the first, second, and third dopants, if present, independently is either an emitter dopant or a sensitizer dopant, and the sensitizer and emitter dopants are in separate layers such that none of the first, second or third layers comprises both an emitter dopant and a sensitizer dopant.