Y2MAl4SiO12:Cr3+ (M=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) near-infrared phosphors via chemical unit co-substitution strategy for plant growth

Abstract

Near infrared light plays an important role in promoting the growth and development of plants. Light at 600–800 nm is conducive to the growth and development of plant stems and leaves. In this study, a series of near-infrared phosphors Y2MAl4SiO12:Cr3+ (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) were synthesized by high temperature solid phase method. The local environment of Cr3+ in Y3Al5O12(YAG) structure was regulated by different Mg2+/Ca2+/Sr2+/Ba2+-Si4+ co-substituting Y3+-Al3+. The crystal structures of the phosphors were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement. With the entry of Mg2+→Ba2+ into the matrix lattice, the corresponding luminescence intensity of Mg2+→Ba2+ is enhanced, the spectra show a large degree of redshift of about 50 nm and the spectra of Mg2+→Ba2+ samples widen by 12 nm. The results show Y2BaAl4SiO12: Cr3+ has a better luminescence property and 0.03 mol is an optimized content. The internal quantum efficiency (IQY) is 68.02% and integrated emission intensity at 150 °C remains 40.2% of the initial emission intensity. The calculated activation energy ΔE is 1.58eV. The spectra of Y2BaAl4SiO12:0.03Cr3+ phosphors are well matched with the absorption spectra of PR and PFR, which is expected to have potential applications in plant growth.