Light conversion film of biodegradable cellulose composite with fluorophores doped silica nanoparticles for plant growth

Rational manipulation of solar spectrum represents a promising strategy to enhance crop productivity and agricultural light conversion films transforming non-utilized or low-efficiency solar photons into photosynthetically active radiation have attracted much attention in modern agriculture. Nevertheless, the poor dispersibility of conventional organic fluorophores in aqueous media severely limit their direct application in water-based polymer matrices. Herein, the 2-(4-bromophenyl)-3-(4-(4-(diphenylamino) styryl) phenyl) fumaronitrile (TPABDFN) with red luminescence was used as light conversion agent and nanocomposite films of biodegradable hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) with TPABDFN doped silica nanoparticles (TPABDFN@SiO 2 ) were synthesized, exhibiting excellent colloidal stability and intense fluorescence in aqueous solution. Highly transparent light conversion films were fabricated by uniformly incorporating TPABDFN@SiO 2 nanoparticles into a HPMC matrix via a facile solution blending process with smooth surface morphology and favorable thermal stability. The film efficiently converted a portion of incident solar radiation into red light, thereby was expected to be used for improving photosynthetic efficiency and significantly promoting crop biomass accumulation. This study provides a versatile strategy for integrating hydrophobic fluorophores into hydrophilic polymer systems and offers a design paradigm for advanced spectral-modulation materials aimed at sustainable agricultural productivity. • Water-dispersible silica nanoparticles with red luminescence are synthesized. • Light conversion films are fabricated based on biodegradable cellulose composite. • Converting a portion of incident solar radiation into red light is demonstrated.