Highly robust and soft biohybrid mechanoluminescence for optical signaling and illumination

Abstract

Biohybrid is a newly emerging and promising approach to construct soft robotics and soft machines with novel functions, high energy efficiency, great adaptivity and intelligence. Despite many unique advantages of biohybrid systems, it is well known that most biohybrid systems have a relatively short lifetime, require complex fabrication process, and only remain functional with careful maintenance. Herein, we introduce a simple method to create a highly robust and power-free soft biohybrid mechanoluminescence, by encapsulating dinoflagellates, bioluminescent unicellular marine algae, into soft elastomeric chambers. The dinoflagellates retain their intrinsic bioluminescence, which is a near-instantaneous light response to mechanical forces. We demonstrate the robustness of various geometries of biohybrid mechanoluminescent devices, as well as potential applications such as visualizing external mechanical perturbations, deformation-induced illumination, and optical signaling in a dark environment. Our biohybrid mechanoluminescent devices are ultra-sensitive with fast response time and can maintain their light emission capability for weeks without special maintenance.

Near‐Infrared Mechanoluminescence of Cr3+ Doped Gallate Spinel and Magnetoplumbite Smart Materials

“…Smart luminescence materials are special material systems with luminescence properties capable of being in situ modulated, such as emission color and intensity. [ 1 ] As a novel smart luminescence material, mechanoluminescence (ML) materials show intriguing capability of real‐time switching on/off light‐emitting upon deformation stimuli (e.g., compression, tension, friction, torsion, bending), with potentials in high‐end stress sensing, [ 2,3 ] ultrasonic fields, visualization, [ 4,5 ] personalized handwriting, [ 6 ] and multidimensional anti‐counterfeiting. [ 7,8 ] Since the ML phenomenon was observed in the early 17th century, increasing efforts have been devoted to the discovery of novel ML materials via a universal trial‐and‐error process, with state‐of‐the‐art representatives such as SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu 2+ ,Dy 3+ (green), [ 9,10 ] ZnS:Mn 2+ (yellow), [ 11,12 ] CaZnOS:Mn 2+ (red), [ 13,14 ] (Sr,Ba)Si 2 O 2 N 2 :Eu 2+ (cyan), [ 15 ] and LiNbO 3 :Pr 3+ (red).…”

“…Smart luminescence materials are special material systems with luminescence properties capable of being in situ modulated, such as emission color and intensity. [1] As a novel smart luminescence material, mechanoluminescence (ML) materials show intriguing capability of real-time switching on/off light-emitting upon deformation stimuli (e.g., compression, tension, friction, torsion, bending), with potentials in high-end stress sensing, [2,3] ultrasonic fields, visualization, [4,5] electron configuration exhibits wavelength-tunable NIR emission ranging 650-1200 nm due to 3d inter-configurational transition, that is, sharp R line emission (≈700 nm) results from 2 E → 4 A 2 spin-forbidden transition; broadband emission is attributed to 4 T 2 → 4 A 2 spin-allow transition. In 2021, Xiong et al first reported deep-red-NIR ML in Cr 3+ doped LiGa 5 O 8 :Cr 3+ with sharp 2 E→ 4 A 2 transition emission.…”

Smart Mechanoluminescent Phosphors: A Review of Strontium‐Aluminate‐Based Materials, Properties, and Their Advanced Application Technologies

“…In addition, by changing the structures/orientations of the SAO host, applying the stress in the form of friction, which can make it possible to improve the repeatability of mechanoluminescence. It is worth noting that in addition to strontium aluminate, other mechanoluminescent materials are also emerging, such as organic materials, [ 151 , 152 ] biohybrid systems, [ 153 ] and other hosts such as inorganic materials, such as low‐cost phosphates. [ 116 , 154 , 155 , 156 ] It is believed that more and more ML materials will be developed in the future, which will provide a library for understanding and analyzing the mechanism of mechanoluminescence and realizing practical applications.…”

Multi-material 3D Printing of Mechanochromic Double Network Hydrogels for On-Demand Patterning

“…The color change is reversible, and the skin of cephalopods recovers to the initial state after releasing the muscles. Inspired by the cephalopods, several strategies have been developed to imitate the force-induced color change abilities in the man-made soft material systems, with the incorporation of the straindependent cracks and folds, 2 the liquid crystal elastomer masks, 3 bioluminescent unicellular marine algae, 4 microfluidic channels, 5 and so forth. These color-change systems are usually fabricated in multi-layer structures, which are complex and time-consuming.…”