Recent Advances in Nanomaterial-Based Light Conversion for Agriculture

Abstract

Photosynthesis is a key physiological process for plant growth and survival. Adverse environmental conditions (e.g., drought and extreme temperatures) have significantly reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Therefore, enhancing crop photosynthesis is crucial for increasing crop yield and addressing global food security. Artificial light supplementation has become a common method to improve photosynthetic efficiency in modern agriculture. The problems of high energy consumption, uneven light distribution, and light pollution associated with traditional supplementary lighting systems not only increase economic costs but can also lead to imbalanced plant growth and negative impacts on the environment and ecosystem. However, traditional supplementary lighting systems suffer from high energy consumption and light pollution, whereas nanotechnology has emerged as a promising alternative to enhance photosynthetic efficiency, despite the limited commercial nanomaterials and unclear action mechanisms. This review systematically summarizes the key factors affecting plant photosynthesis and outlines the main types of existing photosynthesis promoting nanomaterials as well as their underlying mechanisms. On the basis of their modes of action, these nanomaterials are classified into three major categories. First, nanomaterials that directly interact with plant photosynthetic components, second, supplementary light sources integrated with nanomaterials, and third, nanocomposite agricultural films. We discuss the research progress in the application of these nanomaterials in crop cultivation, aiming to provide theoretical support and a scientific basis for the development of more efficient and environment-friendly nanomaterials for enhancing plant photosynthesis.

Keywords

light conversion materials / nanomaterials / photosynthetic efficiency / supplemental lighting / sustainable agriculture

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