Mechanoluminescence from Organic-Inorganic Metal Halide Perovskite Derivative

Metal halide perovskites and their derivatives are gaining significant attention as photoluminescent materials due to their exceptional light-emitting properties. However, most research has concentrated on electroluminescence and photoluminescence, there remains a substantial gap in the exploration of mechanoluminescence (ML) properties in perovskites, making this field largely uncharted. ML is an ancient and intriguing luminescent phenomenon that occurs when a material is subjected to mechanical forces. Here, the discovery of the first organic-inorganic hybrid terbium (Tb³⁺)-based metal halide, a type of perovskite derivative, which exhibits notable ML properties is reported. Through material orthogonal design, the critical roles played by molecular geometry and metal-site ions in achieving remarkable ML in organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides are identified.