Scale-Bridging Mechanics Transfer Enables Ultrabright Mechanoluminescent Fiber Electronics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Mechanoluminescent (ML) fibers offer power-free stress visualization for applications like wearable electronics.
• Existing ML devices face challenges with inefficient stress transfer, limiting brightness and durability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an improved mechanoluminescent composite with enhanced stress transfer capabilities.
• To create a scalable manufacturing process for durable ML fibers compatible with textile production.

Main Methods:

• A tendon-inspired, scale-bridging mechanics transfer mechanism using copolymerized cross-linking and nanoscale inorganic nanoparticles.
• Development of a kilometer-scale anti-Plateau-Rayleigh instability manufacturing technology for thermoset ML fibers.
• System-level demonstrations including motion capture and underwater interaction.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 9-fold increase in luminescence brightness.
• Extended the ML fiber cycle life to over 10,000 cycles.
• Demonstrated effective stress dissipation and reduced local stress concentration.

Conclusions:

• The proposed mechanism significantly enhances ML composite performance.
• Scalable manufacturing enables practical application of advanced ML textiles.
• This work provides a viable pathway for next-generation smart visual textiles.