Trap-independent mechanoluminescence in ZnB2O4:Mn2+/PDMS composite elastomer with self-recovery activity

In this work, ZnB2O4:Mn2+ with a centrosymmetric structure was synthesized, which was further composited into the polydimethylsiloxane elastomer. The results suggest that the ZnB2O4:Mn2+/polydimethylsiloxane elastomer exhibits intense green mechanoluminescence, which is trap-independent and self-recoverable. The repeatable stretching tests along the horizontal and vertical directions further suggest that the interfacial rubbing should be crucial to the mechanoluminescence, and therefore the underlying mechanisms are proposed. This work not only reports a mechanoluminescent material with the centrosymmetric structure, but also reveals the underlying mechanisms from the viewpoint of interfacial interactions, which should be valuable for the future development of various mechanoluminescent materials.