Mechanoluminescence and Photoluminescence Heterojunction for Superior Multimode Sensing Platform of Friction, Force, Pressure, and Temperature in Fibers and 3D-Printed Polymers

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 35; no. 40; p. e2304140
• Main Authors: Zheng, Teng, Runowski, Marcin, Martín, Inocencio R, Soler-Carracedo, Kevin, Peng, Liang, Skwierczyńska, Małgorzata, Sójka, Małgorzata, Barzowska, Justyna, Mahlik, Sebastian, Hemmerich, Hanoch, Rivera-López, Fernando, Kulpiński, Piotr, Lavín, Víctor, Alonso, Daniel, Peng, Dengfeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Cellulose fibers; Excitation spectra; Heterojunctions; Mass production; Materials science; Mechanoluminescence; Optoelectronics; Photoluminescence; Spinning (materials); Three dimensional printing; pressure and temperature sensors; mechanoluminescent polymers and fibers; mechanoluminescence; lanthanide-doped heterostructures; visual sensors
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304140

Endowing a single material with various types of luminescence, that is, exhibiting a simultaneous optical response to different stimuli, is vital in various fields. A photoluminescence (PL)- and mechanoluminescence (ML)-based multifunctional sensing platform is built by combining heterojunctioned ZnS/CaZnOS:Mn mechano-photonic materials using a 3D-printing technique and fiber spinning. ML-active particles are embedded in micrometer-sized cellulose fibers for flexible optical devices capable of emitting light driven by mechanical force. Individually modified 3D-printed hard units that exhibit intense ML in response to mechanical deformation, such as impact and friction, are also fabricated. Importantly, they also allow low-pressure sensing up to ≈100 bar, a range previously inaccessible by any other optical sensing technique. Moreover, the developed optical manometer based on the PL of the materials demonstrates a superior high-pressure sensitivity of ≈6.20 nm GPa . Using this sensing platform, four modes of temperature detection can be achieved: excitation-band spectral shifts, emission-band spectral shifts, bandwidth broadening, and lifetime shortening. This work supports the possibility of mass production of ML-active mechanical and optoelectronic parts integrated with scientific and industrial tools and apparatus.