“…According to the distinction of the coloring mechanism, zircon pigments are generally divided into two subcategories: (I) heteromorphic zircon pigments (HMZPs), represented by the brilliant red CdSe x S 1- x @ZrSiO 4 , yellow CdS@ZrSiO 4 , carbon-black C@ZrSiO 4 and iron-red Fe 2 O 3 @ZrSiO 4 (Qin et al , 2021; Chen et al , 2019; Cannio and Bondioli, 2012); (II) ion-substitutional zircon pigments (ISZPs), typically as the yellow Pr–ZrSiO 4 , green Cr–ZrSiO 4 and the blue V–ZrSiO 4 (Yang et al , 2021; Zhang et al , 2021; Guo et al , 2018; Li et al , 2019). Both of the two types belong to allochromatic pigments and, to date, have yet to advance to their vertex stage of development; even the well-established Pr–ZrSiO 4 yellow, for instance, still has a much inferior tinting strength to that of BiVO 4 and PbCrO 4 (as typical idiochromatic pigments), whereas the Cr–ZrSiO 4 green and the V–ZrSiO 4 blue possess their best chroma C* only below 40 (in contrast, the CoAl 2 O 4 blue with C * exceeding 70) (Yang et al , 2021; Zhang et al , 2021; Li et al , 2019; Zhang et al , 2019). The pivotal impediment originates from the suboptimal encapsulation of the zircon matrix to chromophores, and however, this can be enhanced in future, e.g.…”