Piezoluminescence: Controlled direct conversion of mechanical energy into light
Abstract
Major Goals: Piezoluminescence (PZL) is a promising energy-conversion phenomena for mechanically driven photon sources, such as displays, lighting, bioimaging, and sensing. However, realization of practical PZL materials is challenging, and currently, none of the available components and devices utilize this effect due to extremely lowlight intensity and restricted control of the emission wavelength. This is a new emerging field of research with limited number of publications and even less understanding of the basic physics controlling the coupling ofmechanical strain with interband transitions and charge recombination reactions. The scientific approach presented here provides clear direction to systematically elucidate the principles governing the intensity and wavelength of PZL emission. Defect chemistry, band structure, and nanostructured composite architecture will be investigated to improve the light emission intensity. There are many ways to introduce intrinsic effect into a given material system (e.g., gaseous diffusion) which results in new energy levels between its bandgap. Hydrogenation treatment in conjunction with the composition design will be utilized to improve the intensity. Accomplishments: Direct conversion of mechanical energy into light of specific wavelength provides new direction for design of novel sensing systems, displays and controls. Systematic material design and characterization experiments were conducted to discover the physical principles that lead to controlledpiezoluminescence (PZL) in flexible sheets and bulk. PZL implies generation of light of desired wavelength by mechanical action. The effect has been observed in compounds with suitable crystallographic symmetry modified with activator ion. The underlying basis for the effect has been correlated with the presence of local piezoelectricity and energy states below conduction band available from the suitable activator ion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1067550
Entities
People
- Shashank Priya
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University