Bi3+/Mn4+ co-doped dual-emission phosphors for potential plant lighting

Developing environment-friendly dual-emission phosphors of both blue–cyan and deep-red lights is desirable for the utilized indoor plant lighting research. Notably, the naked 6s and 6p Bi³⁺ ions are sensitive to the lattice sites, which emit from Ultraviolet (UV) to red lights in various crystal compounds. Meanwhile, the ²E → ⁴A_2g transition of Mn⁴⁺ ions promises its deep-red light emissions, which satisfies the demand for specific wavelength lights for plants growth. Hence, a Bi³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ co-doped Sr₂LaGaO₅: Bi³⁺, Mn⁴⁺ (SLGO:Bi³⁺:Mn⁴⁺) phosphor was finally synthesized. The phase, micromorphology and luminescent properties were systematically evaluated. Upon excitation at 350 nm light, dual emissions of both blue–cyan (470 nm) and deep-red (718 nm) lights were observed. Besides, due to the pronounced photoluminescence (PL) spectral overlap between Bi³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions, a potential energy transfer process from Bi³⁺ to Mn⁴⁺ ions was confirmed. The relative PL intensities between Bi³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions can be tuned just by adjusting the Mn⁴⁺ ion concentration. Besides, Li⁺ co-doping has been evidenced to improve the deep-red emissions (718 nm) of SLGO:0.005Mn⁴⁺ due to charge compensation and rationally designed lattice distortion, together with the improved thermal stability. Finally, the emissions of SLGO:Bi³⁺, Mn⁴⁺, Li⁺ phosphor suit properly with the absorption of the four fundamental pigments for plant growth, indicating that the prepared phosphorescent materials may have a prospect in plant light-emitting diodes lighting.