Mechanoluminescent Fibers for Visualizing Motion Sensing

Motion monitoring using electronic fibers plays a pivotal role in personal healthcare, disease detection, and diagnosis. While existing studies primarily focus on enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of electrical sensing signals, these signals remain invisible to the naked eye, hindering intuitive user experiences. Here, we propose a novel luminous fiber based on the mechanoluminescence (ML) effect. This fiber enables real-time visual sensing of external mechanical forces without relying on additional electronic components such as batteries or chips. This ML fiber features a simple structure and good stability, which consists of a core layer of ZnS:Cu<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2+</sup> composite elastic material and a sheath layer of silicone rubber elastomer. Notably, within a tensile strain range of 30%, the ML fiber emits visible green light at 520 nm, with light intensity positively correlated to tensile acceleration. Our design strategy presents a viable solution for future motion management applications.