CDs microcapsules polyurethane film with improved light environment, self-healing and high strength for plant greenhouses to promote plant growth
Xia Zhao, Xueying Duan, Xiang Mao, Wenhao Cao, Hao Hu, Pan Zhou, Jieqing Luo, Ting Xie, Wei Gao, Zequan Li
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs) have photoconversion performance and have a wide range of applications in agriculture. However, the solution of CDs is susceptible to quench under evaporation of sunlight and is easy to run-off when influenced by the external environment. Here, PVA-coated CDs were used to overcome the solid-state quenching and to prepare CDs microcapsules-polyurethane Film for plant cultivation. In this work, CDs microcapsules which can convert ultraviolet light into blue light for plant growth, were prepared by the “water/oil/water” method, and light-converting CDs microcapsules polyurethane film (CMPF) was prepared by doping CDs microcapsules with polyurethane. The study showed that polyurethane film has good mechanical properties and self-healing ability, the CMPF was able to effectively promote the growth of lettuce, and the effect was most significant at the CDs microcapsules concentration of 4000 mg/L. Compared with the blank group, the fresh and dry weights were increased by 177% and 143.5%, respectively, and the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and soluble protein were increased by 14.5%, 188.5%, 43.3%, and 17.9%, respectively. Application of CDs to modulate plant lighting growth regulators for efficient use of ultraviolet (UV) light.