Plant habitat-conscious phosphors: Tuneable luminescence properties of Dy3+-doped Ca8ZnY(PO4)7 phosphors by co-dopants Mg2+ and B3+

Outdoor lighting and other lighting systems can disrupt natural plant growth habits. Thus, LED lighting that is not detrimental to plant growth is required. In our study, Dy3+-doped Ca8ZnY(PO4)7:Dy3+ phosphor with enhanced luminescence properties caused by the co-dopants Mg2+ and B3+ were synthesised. The samples had multiple excitation peaks, indicating they are excited by either near-ultraviolet (n-UV) or blue chips. All samples exhibited bright narrow yellow and blue emission corresponding to the transitions of Dy3+ ions with 4F9/2→6H13/2 and 4F9/2→6H13/2, respectively. Moreover, doping with Mg2+ and B3+ enhanced the luminescence intensity, reaching 113.6 and 119.7%, respectively. In addition, the luminescence emission intensity at 150 °C was maintained at approximately 95% of the initial value at 25 °C, and its thermal stability increased by 123%. Devices assembled with an n-UV chip (388 nm) and the as-obtained CZMYP:Dy3+ phosphor emitted a bright warm white light and simulated outdoor dark lighting for tobacco cultivation, indicating that the as-prepared phosphor is an excellent candidate material for plant habitat-conscious phosphors.