Optical Pressure And Temperature Sensing By The Use Of Photoluminescence & Mechanoluminescence

Speaker: Prof. Marcin Runowski Faculty of Chemistry AMU Poznan

Abstract: Mechanoluminescence (ML) is a powerful phenomenon that enables light generation induced with mechanical or acoustic waves.[1] Whereas, photoluminescence (PL) thermometry is a modern technique for remote, non-invasive temperature detection. However, the efficient combination of both approaches is a challenge, where the low signal intensity limits their simultaneous use in real-world applications.Here, we show the first utilization of ML-based thermometry for online temperature monitoring in working electro-mechanical devices, accompanied with force and sound visualization, using Er3+-Mn2+ co-doped ZnS/CaZnOS heterojunction as ML-active materials.[2] The materials exhibit alike characteristic PL and bright green, yellow or orange ML, depending on the chemical composition and stimuli used. Temperature-dependent PL is utilized to calibrate luminescence thermometry response, allowing further use of the friction- and sound-induced ML signal for temperature sensing and visualization in heated, sonicated or motorized systems. This approach demonstrates excellent application potential of sound-to-light conversion for remote monitoring, and excitation-light-free temperature probing.We also show the development of the highly sensitive pressure and temperature gauges based on the Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu2+/Dy3+ and AlN materials, exhibiting persistent photoluminescence (PersL) and mechanoluminescence.[3,4] Notably, anti-counterfeiting, night-vision safety-sign, 8-bit optical-coding, and QR-code applications that exhibit intense PersL were demonstrated by 3D-printing the studied material in combination with a polymer.Acknowledgments: Work supported by the National Science Center (2023/50/E/ST5/00021).

References:

[1] T. Zheng, M. Runowski, I. R. Martín, K. Soler‐Carracedo, L. Peng, M. Skwierczyńska, M. Sójka, J. Barzowska, S. Mahlik, H. Hemmerich, et al., Adv. Mater. 2023, 35, 2304140.

[2] M. Runowski, J. Moszczyński, P. Woźny, K. Soler‐Carracedo, J. Barzowska, S. Mahlik, D. Peng, T. Zheng, Adv. Mater. 2025, e10117.

[3] T. Zheng, J. Luo, D. Peng, L. Peng, P. Woźny, J. Barzowska, M. Kamiński, S. Mahlik, J. Moszczyński, K. Soler‐Carracedo, F. Rivera‐López, H. Hemmerich, M. Runowski, Adv. Sci. 2024, 11, 2408686.

[4] T. Zheng, P. Woźny, K. Soler‐Carracedo, D. Han, J. Wang, L. Peng, W. Li, D. Peng, H. Wu, J. Moszczyński, S. Mahlik, M. Runowski, Adv. Mater. 2025, e11943.

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