Highly efficient Fe3+-activated hexaaluminate phosphor with multisite luminescence and high thermal stability toward plant lighting

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.181052

Fe³⁺ activator is a NIR candidate due to its non-toxicity and low cost. Herein, a NIR phosphor BaZnAl₁₀O₁₇: Fe³⁺ (BZA: Fe³⁺) with high external quantum efficiency (EQE = 54.1 %) and excellent thermal stability is synthesized. Various emission spectra can be observed under three different excitation wavelengths, which is attributed to the occupation of Fe³⁺ on two octahedral sites and a tetrahedral site. The anti-thermal quenching phenomenon under the excitation wavelength of 340 nm can be attributed to trap-assisted energy compensation, weak electron-phonon coupling and energy transfer between different Fe³⁺ sites. These sparkling properties indicate application potential in the field of plant lighting.