Ultrahigh-resolution photoluminescence visualization via triboelectrification effect

High-spatial-resolution visualization of localized physical stimuli remains constrained by structural and material limitations. Here, we develop a sub-micrometer-resolution visualization platform based on the nanoscale-triboelectrification-tuned photoluminescence (PL) in two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). The PL intensity can be precisely regulated by controlling the contact force, scan rate and scan cycles of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip. With an AFM tip diameter of 20 nm and an excitation light wavelength of 532 nm, an ultrahigh resolution of 571.4 nm, corresponding to an equivalent pixel density of 44,452 pixels per inch, has been demonstrated, approaching the optical resolution limit. This work provides a proof-of-concept strategy for sub-micrometer-resolution PL visualization by coupling triboelectrification with the PL characteristic of 2D TMDCs. The proposed mechanism may provide a promising visualization platform for future high-resolution optical information encoding, mechanical mapping, and nano-optoelectronic systems.