Sm2O3-doped CsPbBr1I2 perovskite quantum dot glass nanocomposites for enhanced plant growth lighting

Abstract

Indoor farming systems have emerged as a vital solution to the growing challenges in agriculture, where light quality and intensity are crucial for enhancing photosynthesis and promoting plant growth. While LEDs are widely employed in these systems, thanks to their energy efficiency and tunable spectra, conventional phosphor- based LEDs often face limitations such as rapid degradation and suboptimal color rendering. To address these challenges, we synthesize Sm2O3-doped CsPbBr1I2 perovskite quantum dot (PQD) glass nanocomposites (GNCs), aiming to enhance red light emission for plant growth. The incorporation of Sm2O3 allows precise tuning of the emission spectrum, improving photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) to create an optimal light environment for plant development. Our systematic investigations identify the ideal Sm2O3 concentration and heat-treatment conditions, achieving a remarkable PLQY of 44.3 %, the highest reported for CsPbBrxI(3-x) PQD GNCs. Through controlled melt-quenching and heat-treatment processes, we optimize the crystallization conditions, ensuring the stability and longevity of the PQDs within the glass matrix. Additionally, we construct a prototype plant growth LED panel by integrating 450 nm blue LED chips with the Sm2O3-doped CsPbBr1I2 PQD GNCs, achieving a total photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 240 mu mol m-2 s-1, a luminous efficacy of 171 lm/W, and CIE color coordinates of x = 0.3756 and y = 0.2575. Plant growth experiments indicate that plants grown under our LED system demonstrate longer stems and larger leaves compared to those cultivated under standard white LEDs. The results indicate that Sm2O3-doped CsPbBr1I2 PQD GNCs hold great promise for next-generation plant growth lighting, offering a novel and energy-efficient approach that could transform indoor agriculture and foster advancements in sustainable farming technologies.