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Updated: Jan 12, 2026
A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting
Published on: March 9, 2017
Synergistic Optimization Between Chromium Local Coordination States Toward Self-Powered High-Repeatability
Yao Xiao1, Puxian Xiong2, Gaochao Liu1
1State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Institute of Optical Communication Materials, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Applied Techniques, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
Researchers developed highly repeatable near-infrared mechanoluminescent materials by optimizing chromium ion states in a magnesium oxide host. This breakthrough enhances potential for advanced bio-imaging and sensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Chemistry
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Self-powered mechanoluminescence (S-ML) elastomers with near-infrared (NIR) emission show promise for bio-imaging, bio-sensing, and human-machine interaction.
- Current limitations in S-ML materials include insufficient emission efficiency and cycling stability due to a poor understanding of the mechanical-photon conversion mechanism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop high-repeatability and tunable NIR mechanoluminescent materials.
- To elucidate the structure-activity relationship governing mechanical-photon conversion.
- To establish an integrated design approach for material-performance-device optimization.
Main Methods:
- Optimizing Cr3+ local coordination states within a centrosymmetric MgO host.
- Constructing an electron transfer model involving multiple Cr3+ ion states (isolated, pair, cluster).
- Utilizing theoretical calculations and experimental validation to understand material behavior.
Main Results:
- Achieved high-repeatability (>10000 cycles) and tunable NIR emission (650-1000 nm) mechanoluminescent materials.
- Established a structure-activity relationship linking local piezoelectricity to photoelectric output via an electron transfer model.
- Demonstrated proof-of-concept multi-layered bright field sensing and imaging with NIR tactile perception.
Conclusions:
- The heterovalent substitution of Cr3+ ions in MgO promotes [MgO6] distortion, creating intermediate gap states for stress-driven electron tunneling.
- This work presents a novel, highly repeatable NIR ML phosphor and a framework for rational material-device design.
