Multifunctional persistent luminescent and photochromic hackmanite-based materials prepared by microwave-assisted solid-state synthesis

Advanced optical materials inspired by natural minerals and non-toxic light elements, such as the Hackmanites (Na8Al6Si6O24(Cl,S)2), find vast possibilities of applications as they can simultaneously perform photochromism and persistent luminescence (PersL). In this work, we have explored a rapid and energy-efficient microwaveassisted (MASS) methodology for the synthesis of PersL and photochromic hackmanites. In addition, we have prepared hackmanite materials using a zeolite-free precursor to control the Na-Al-Si ratio and study its influence on the materials photoluminescent properties. The PersL hackmanites showed a white-bluish emission color, with up to 2 h of emission time. Zeolite-free photochromic materials were able to change the color from white to purple/blue efficiently with a few seconds of 254 nm excitation, but the usage of zeolite precursors enhanced the overall optical performance. Microwave synthesis times of 10-40 min were demonstrated to be optimal, as longer times boosted the formation of nepheline spurious phase, which decreases luminescence efficiency. In this way, the MASS method led to a reduction of reaction time up to 98 %, yielding hackmanite materials with similar photoluminescent or photochromic properties compared to those obtained by a 24 h conventional solid-state synthesis. This work represents a significant improvement toward coupling eco-friendly synthetic processes to eco-friendly solid-state materials for PersL illumination and PersL/photochromism optical marking.