Real-time mechanoluminescence sensing of the amplitude and duration of impact stress

The present paper reports the real-time sensing of the amplitude and duration of impact stress using mechanoluminescence (ML) of the films such as ZnS:Mn and SrAl2O4:Eu. After the impact of a small ball from a low height onto the film, initially the elastico mechanoluminescence (EML) intensity increases with time, attains a peak value and then it decreases with time, initially at a fast rate and later on at a slow rate. The fast decay time of the EML intensity is related to the rate constant for the rise of impact stress and the slow decay time of EML is equal to the lifetime of electrons in the shallow traps lying in the normal piezoelectric region of the crystals, which get filled during the detrapping of thermally stable traps at the time of the increase of pressure. Both the peaks of EML intensity and total EML intensity increase linearly with the height through which the ball is dropped onto the films. The EML spectra are similar to the corresponding photoluminescence and electroluminescence spectra. On the basis of the localized piezoelectrically induced electron detrapping model, expressions are derived for different parameters of the impact stress-induced EML of the films, whereby a good agreement is found between the experimental and theoretical results. As the EML intensity depends on the impact stress, the impact stress can be sensed by measuring the EML intensity. Furthermore, the duration of stress is related to the time tm corresponding to the peak of the EML intensity versus time curve; hence, the pulse duration of the impact stress can be monitored by measuring the value of time tm.

► Explores the real-time sensing of impact stress using mechanoluminescence.
► Expressions are derived for the dependence of EML on impact stress.
► Impact stress can be sensed remotely by measuring the EML intensity.
► Pulse duration of impact stress can be monitored by measuring the time tm.