Self-powered mechanoluminescent elastomer for solar-blind ultraviolet emission

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Flexible mechanoluminescence (ML) elastomers are crucial for wearable electronics and sensors.
• Existing ML elastomers face limitations in emission wavelength, repeatability, stability, and self-recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-performance, solar-blind ultraviolet (UVC) ML elastomer.
• To investigate the underlying mechanism of UVC ML emission.
• To demonstrate potential applications in self-powered photonics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Sr3(BO3)2:Pr3+ phosphors.
• Composite formation with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
• Characterization of ML properties, including emission spectra, repeatability, cyclic stability, and self-recovery.
• Experimental and theoretical analysis of the ML mechanism (triboelectrification).

Main Results:

• A novel UVC ML elastomer emitting at 272 nm was created.
• Exceptional repeatability and cyclic stability (10,000+ cycles) were achieved.
• Rapid self-recovery was observed (43.2% in 1s, 90.2% in 24h).
• Interfacial triboelectrification involving electron transfer was identified as the emission mechanism.

Conclusions:

• The developed elastomer overcomes limitations of previous ML materials.
• It offers a power-free solution for UVC-based applications.
• Potential applications include outdoor optical tagging and microbial sterilization.