Crystallization mechanism and luminescence properties of Cr3+ -doped micron-sized ZnAl2O4 devitrified glasses synthesized by cooling-induced self-crystallization

Plant photosynthesis relies on photosynthetic pigments to absorb red and far-red light. Cr 3+ -doped ZnAl 2 O 4 exhibits superior red-light emission, holding great potential for plant illumination. Nevertheless, the luminescence efficiency of nanocrystalline glass-ceramics is limited by their crystal size. To address this issue, in this study, Cr 3+ -doped micron-sized ZnAl 2 O 4 devitrified glasses were fabricated via a cooling-induced self-crystallization method. Cr 3+ incorporation simultaneously modulates the crystallization kinetics of the devitrified glasses and significantly enhances the luminescent properties. The maximum luminescence intensity was obtained at the Cr 3+ doping concentration of 0.1 mol%. Notably, the as-prepared devitrified glasses retain approximately 84% of its room-temperature photoluminescence intensity, even at an elevated temperature of 150 ℃. The emission peak of the ZnAl 2 O 4 : Cr 3+ devitrified glasses in the red spectral region closely matches the absorption spectrum of phytochrome far-red, effectively satisfying the red-light requirement for plant photosynthesis. Electroluminescence (EL) characterization confirms its suitability for plant lighting applications. This work is of great significance for promoting the development of the plant lighting industry.