-conjugated molecules absorbing and emitting in the longer wavelength regions are of huge interest for their utilities in night vision detectors, photobiomodulation and biological imaging. A handful of NIR absorbing molecular classes are known; however, reports on intense NIR absorbing and emitting molecules are rare. Longer rylene diimides such as terrylene diimides (TDIs) are molecules of interest, having intense absorption and emission in the NIR range. However, these larger polyaromatics suffer from inherent aggregation that hinders their synthesis, isolation and characterization. Herein, we shall discuss a few TDI derivatives that have intense absorption and emission in the range of 700 nm – 900 nm. The emission quantum yields observed are some of the highest among this class of molecules (up to 93%). This talk will highlight the utility of precise electronic and structural tuning necessary to achieve intense NIR absorbing and emitting molecules for modern applications.