The spinel?phase Zn2Ga2.98-x Ge0.75O8:Cr0.02, La x (x=0.005,0.010,0.015,0.020,0.025) nanoparticles were synthesized by a hydrothermal method in combination with a subsequent heat treatment. With the La3+ doping concentration increasing from 0 to 0.025, the average particle size of these nanoparticls increased from 64 nm to 78 nm. Under 590 nm excitation, La3+?doped ZGGO nanoparticles exhibited stronger narrow?band NIR emission peaked at 697 nm, originating from the 2E(2G)→4A2(4F) transition of Cr3+. From the TEM and emission spectral analyses, it can be found that the increased NIR persistent luminescence is attributed to the increased particle size and the increased number of luminescent centers in a relatively strong crystal field environment. On the basis of thermoluminescence spectra and the afterglow decay curves, it can be found that La3+ doping leads to the formation of more traps related to the thermal activation process and the afterglow time exceeding 15 h.