Realization of blue-red dual-emission via energy transfer in Ca9ZnK(PO4)7: Eu2 +, Mn2+ phosphors for plant cultivation and warm white illumination
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Developing single-phase phosphors that precisely match the absorption spectra of photosynthetic pigments remains challenging. Herein, whitlockite-type Ca 9 ZnK(PO 4 ) 7 : Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ blue-red dual-emission phosphors were synthesized via a solid-state reaction. Rietveld refinement reveals an anomalous unit cell volume contraction, confirming the preferential substitution of Mn 2+ for larger Ca 2+ sites. Under 340 nm excitation, highly efficient quadrupole-quadrupole non-radiative energy transfer (ET) from Eu 2+ to Mn 2+ occurs. A maximum ET efficiency of 70.2% effectively compensates for the low direct excitation efficiency of Mn 2+ , boosting the photoluminescence quantum yield to 60.49%. Benefiting from a rigid three-dimensional framework, the Ca 9 ZnK(PO 4 ) 7 : Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ phosphor exhibits excellent thermal stability, retaining 83.78% (411 nm) and 70.52% (652 nm) of initial intensities at 423 K with minimal chromaticity shift. Practical evaluations confirm the packaged devices highly match the absorption cross-sections of chlorophyll and phytochrome. In vivo experiments demonstrate that this customized LED lighting significantly accelerates the daily growth rates of hydroponic garlic and soil-cultivated green onions by 41% and 174%, respectively. Furthermore, a white light-emitting diode (WLED) constructed using this material achieved a warm white output with an ultra-high color rendering index ( R a) of 94.3. This work provides a solid foundation for designing efficient, stable, and multifunctional light sources for photoelectric agriculture and solid-state lighting.
Source: Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Institution: Guizhou University
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,660
Awards: G3705496893, G8995603038
OpenAlex ID: W7214062930