Abstract
Mechanoluminescent materials can convert mechanical stress into light. Among these, elasticoluminescent materials are useful for monitoring periodic and repetitive events. However, the development of high-performance elasticoluminescent materials remains a significant challenge because of the lack of understanding of the structures and mechanisms underlying mechanoluminescent materials. To address this issue, this study investigated the elasticoluminescence properties of Gd2O2S:Tb3+ through a comprehensive analysis using experimental and computational techniques. Using thermoluminescence spectroscopy and density functional theory, we observed that trap states within the bandgap are generated by the O2− and S2− anion vacancies, which contribute to mechanoluminescence. The observation of green mechanoluminescence (ML) characteristics in Gd2O2S:Tb3+ was accompanied by a meticulous analysis of their origins, which aligned significantly well with the computational results. These findings enhance our understanding of the origin of ML and provide a solid foundation for the development of next-generation high-performance ML materials, thus fostering advancements in various fields of advanced technology research.
Funder
National Research Foundation of Korea
Institute of Information & communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) grant funded by the Korea government
Artificial Intelligence Graduate School Program, Hanyang University) and the research fund of Hanyang University
Publisher
The Electrochemical Society
Subject
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials