Recently, the "Special Optical Fiber Devices and Sensing Research Group" of our university has achieved innovative results. The research result of "Near-Infrared Mechanoluminescence Technology for Micro-Strain Response of Intelligent Non-Destructive Artificial Joints" completed by Professor Ren Jing from the School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering has been published in the top international journal Advanced Materials in the field of materials and physics (Advanced Materials, the latest impact factor: 26.8). Professor Zhang Jianzhong, the leader of the research group, is the co-corresponding author, Li Wenhao is the first author of the paper, and Harbin Engineering University is the first unit.
Traditional sensors rely on monitoring the changes in electrical signals such as resistance and capacitance to detect mechanical stress. In complex three-dimensional sensing scenarios, redundant interconnections and external devices not only complicate the in-situ stress monitoring process but also severely limit the actual application scenarios. Mechanoluminescence is a luminescence phenomenon triggered in solid materials under mechanical forces such as tension, compression, bending, friction, and impact. Functional devices based on this characteristic have shown great application potential in fields such as self-powered sensors, underwater communication, information security, engineering structure diagnosis, and biomedicine. Such sensors can achieve accurate quantitative measurement of stress and strain by virtue of the linear relationship between the mechanoluminescence intensity and the applied stress. And with their unique luminescence mechanism, stable physical and chemical properties, and excellent biocompatibility, they have the characteristics of excellent reproducibility, durability, miniaturization, and non-toxicity, and can realize the visualization of real-time stress information.
Although researchers have made significant progress in the research and development of high-performance mechanoluminescent materials, the realization of high-performance mechanoluminescence still faces multiple challenges, including weak luminescence intensity, dependence on ultraviolet wavelength charging, inability to detect low-strain signals, and lack of a complete mechanoluminescence theoretical mechanism. To address these problems, this study has developed a new type of broadband near-infrared mechanoluminescent film, which can detect clear mechanoluminescent signals at 50 micro-strains, showing excellent force-optical sensing performance and providing a new perspective for the research and development of new intelligent mechanical sensors.
Advanced Materials is a top international academic journal in the field of materials and physical sciences, and it is a journal included in the Nature Index. Its impact factor has remained at the forefront of the field for many years. The results published in it all represent major breakthroughs and frontier progress in the field. The publication of this result demonstrates the research strength of our university in the field of mechanoluminescent sensing technology.
Paper link
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/adma.202505360
