Green-Orange Bi-Color Switchable Mechanoluminescent Fiber of Okra-Like Structure for Visual Signaling

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Biomimetic Engineering

Background:

• Mechanoluminescence (ML) offers light emission under mechanical stress without external power, ideal for smart devices.
• Current wearable ML devices lack intuitive visual feedback for stress variations.
• Okra seed structure inspires a novel biomimetic approach for enhanced ML fiber design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biomimetic mechanoluminescent fiber for intuitive stress monitoring.
• To achieve dual-color light emission for differentiating pressure and tension.
• To integrate the fiber into wearable textiles for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a mechanoluminescent fiber inspired by okra seed structure.
• Characterization of the fiber's dual-color emission response to pressure (<12.7 kPa) and tension (<10% strain).
• Assessment of the fiber's mechanical properties (strength, flexibility) and fabric integration.

Main Results:

• A novel mechanoluminescent fiber exhibiting distinct orange (pressure) and green (tension) light emissions was successfully developed.
• The fiber demonstrated high sensitivity to stress and strain within the tested ranges.
• The fiber maintained breathability and moisture permeability upon integration into fabrics.

Conclusions:

• The biomimetic mechanoluminescent fiber provides an intuitive, wearable solution for stress monitoring.
• This technology holds significant potential for applications in human motion tracking, interactive textiles, and intelligent warning systems.
• The dual-color emission capability enhances the fiber's utility for complex human-machine interfaces.