Work

Near-Infrared Excited Mn4+- and Nd3+-Doped Y2SiO5 Luminescent Material with Flower-like Morphology for Plant-Centric Lighting Applications

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Confronted with increasing global food demands, diminishing arable land, and climate volatility, controlled-environment agriculture with advanced red and far-red LED lighting can enhance photosynthesis and optimize plant growth. This investigation reports the generation of a Mn4+/Nd3+ co-doped Y2SiO5 phosphor with a Nd3+ concentration ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 mol% via a solid-state synthesis method, aiming to enhance red and far-red emission for plant cultivation LEDs. For the Y2SiO5:Mn4+ (1 mol%), Nd3+ (2 mol%) phosphor, the phase integrity, nanostructured morphology, elemental mapping, and vibrational characteristics were examined using XRD, Rietveld analysis, FTIR, SEM, and EDX. Nd3+ ions act as near-infrared excitation mediators, ensuring efficient Nd3+ → Mn4+ energy transfer upon 808 nm excitation, and this leads to pronounced red photoluminescence from Mn4+ ions that covers the range of 640–710 nm, exhibiting strong emission peaks centered at 650nm, 663nm, and 685nm, coinciding with the absorption band of phytochromes and chlorophyll. The optimal emission intensity was accomplished for a Nd3+ doping concentration of 2 mol%, beyond which concentration quenching occurred. The material produced a strong, concentrated deep red emission with CIE coordinates near (0.73, 0.27) and a high color purity of 98.96%, making it well-suited for photosynthetic activation. A phosphor-integrated red pc-LED was fabricated, and Tulsi plants were grown under this LED during the winter in Meghalaya, a period critical for plant growth due to the low ambient light. Over a 30-day period, the plants exhibited enhanced height and leaf development, demonstrating the practical potential of Mn4+/Nd3+ co-doped Y2SiO5 for energy-efficient, wavelength-optimized horticultural lighting.

Source: Molecules

DOI: 10.3390/molecules30214161