Survey of the literature on mechanoluminescence from 1605 to 2013

Abstract

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.

Mechanoluminescence of (ZnS)1−x(MnTe)x nanophosphors excited by impact of a load

“…Bacon, in 1605 reported that lumps of sugar emitted light when scraped. On the basis of the research work done in the past, the ML research can be divided into four generations [3,4] such as pre-PMT (photomultiplier tube) generation of ML (from beginning to 1950), early post-PMT generation of ML (from 1951 to 1990), late post-PMT generation of ML (from 1991 to date), and future generation of ML (yet to come).…”

Study of Mechanoluminescent ZnS: Cu, Cl Phosphor for Developing Sensors

“…ML or Triboluminescence (TL) has been known since almost 400 years. The first reference of this phenomenon was given by Francis Bacon's in his writing "Advancement of Learning" in the year 1605 [15]. ML is categorized into in three types: elasticomechanoluminescence (EML), plastico-mechanoluminescence (PML) and Fracto-mechanoluminescence (FML) [16,17].…”

“…EML is a non-destructive technique but PML and FML are destructive ML. Actually, before 1950 there were reports only on FML [15] in which the ML material was used for single time. Longchambon is the first person to record the ML spectra of sugar and other crystals in 1922 [15].…”

“…Actually, before 1950 there were reports only on FML [15] in which the ML material was used for single time. Longchambon is the first person to record the ML spectra of sugar and other crystals in 1922 [15]. After discovery of photomultiplier tube (PMT) tremendous work was carried out in the investigation of ML.…”

“…After discovery of photomultiplier tube (PMT) tremendous work was carried out in the investigation of ML. Scientist reported thousand of ML materials, their characteristics and mechanism [15] for fruitful applications. FML is used to study of dynamics and mechanics of fracture, in fuse system for army warhead, design of damage and fracture sensors [18].…”