Application convenient and energy-saving mechano-optics of Er3+-doped X2O2S (X = Y/Lu/Gd) for thermometry

Abstract

Mechanoluminescent materials have gained considerable attention over the past few years due to their unique characteristic of converting some useless mechanical actions in our daily life like compression and friction into usable light sources. However, the application scenarios of mechanoluminescent materials are still quite limited, mainly to stress sensors and visualization of pressure. Our work aims to solve this problem. Here, we demonstrate that Y₂O₂S:Er³⁺ with excellent mechanoluminescence (ML) could be used for energy-saving temperature sensing. Upon stimulation of external force, Y₂O₂S:Er³⁺ emits bright green ML that is attributed to the ²H_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2 and ⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transitions of Er³⁺. These transitions are confirmed to conform with the Boltzmann distribution during a dynamic temperature-changing test. In addition, we confirm the feasibility of the ML thermometry framework in Er³⁺-doped Gd₂O₂S and Lu₂O₂S. Our work provides a new perspective for broadening the application scenarios of mechanoluminescent materials.