Mechanoluminescent materials for tactile sensors

Traditional tactile sensors such as resistance, piezo-resistance, piezoelectricity, and capacitance types are based on the principle of transforming tactile signals into electrical signals. These sensor units are electrode-attached and wire-bonded for the acquisition of tactile signals, complicating their fabrication and limiting their spatial resolution. Here we introduce mechanoluminescent materials for a novel type of tactile sensor. Mechanoluminescent materials emit photonic signals directly under the action of touch without an external light source or power supply, holding great promise for real-world applications in smart tactile sensors.