Synthesis, structure, and luminescence characteristics of far-red emitting Mn4+-activated LaScO3 perovskite phosphors for plant growth

Abstract

Far-red emitting phosphors LaScO3:Mn4+ were successfully synthesized via a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The X-ray powder diffraction confirmed that the pure-phase LaScO3:Mn4+ phosphors had formed. Under 398 nm excitation, the LaScO3:Mn4+ phosphors emitted far red light within the range of 650-800 nm peaking at 703 nm (14 225 cm−1) due to the 2Eg → 4A2g transition, which was close to the spectral absorption center of phytochrome PFR located at around 730 nm. The optimal doping concentration and luminescence concentration quenching mechanism of LaScO3:Mn4+ phosphors was found to be 0.001 and electric dipole-dipole interaction, respectively. And the CIE chromaticity coordinates of the LaScO3:0.001Mn4+ phosphor were (0.7324, 0.2676). The decay lifetimes of the LaScO3:Mn4+ phosphors gradually decreased from 0.149 to 0.126 ms when the Mn4+ doping concentration increased from 0.05 to 0.9 mol%. Crystal field analysis showed that the Mn4+ ions experienced a strong crystal field in the LaScO3 host. The research conducted on the LaScO3:Mn4+ phosphors illustrated their potential application in plant lighting to control or regulate plant growth.