Mechanoluminescence (ML) is a type of luminescence induced by any mechanical action on solids. The light emissions induced by elastic deformation, plastic deformation and fracture of solids are called elastico ML (EML), plastico ML (PML) and fracto ML (FML), respectively. Whereas nearly 50% of all organic molecular solids and inorganic salts exhibit FML, only a few solids exhibit EML and PML. The EML and FML of certain solids are so intense that they can be seen during daylight with the naked eye. Mechanolumnescence has a great potential for use in different types of mechano-optical devices such as stress sensors, damage sensors, impact sensors, fracture sensors and safety management monitoring systems. This article reports a survey of the literature from 1605 to 2013. Mechanoluminescence is studied by physicists, chemists, material scientists, geologists, medical scientists, engineers and technologists, among others and researchers will certainly benefit from the literature survey on ML given here. In addition, the field of mechanoluminescence may attract the interest of many new researchers.
The long time dream of mechanoluminescence (ML) research to fabricate mechanoluminescence white light sources and mechanoluminescence displays seems to be turning into reality after the recent demonstration of highly bright and durable mechanoluminescent flexible composite films with a brightness of ≈120 cd/m2 and durability over ≈100 000 repeated mechanical stresses by using a combination of copper-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Cu) particles and polydimethylsiloxane. The present paper explores that self-recovery of mechanoluminescence of deforming piezoelectric semiconductors takes place by trapping of drifting charge carriers in the presence of piezoelectric field. This may be useful in enhancing the intensity and durability of ML devices.
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