The “Special Optical Fiber Devices and Sensing Research Group” at Harbin Engineering University (HEU) has achieved a significant breakthrough in the field. Their research, titled “Micro-Strain Responsive Near-Infrared Mechanoluminescence for Potential Nondestructive Artificial Joint Stress Imaging”, led by Professor REN Jing from the College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, has been published in Advanced Materials. Professor ZHANG Jianzhong, the leader of the research group, serves as a co-corresponding author, with LI Wenhao as the first author. HEU is listed as the primary affiliated institution.

Mechanoluminescence refers to the phenomenon where solid materials emit light in response to mechanical forces, such as tension, compression, bending, friction, or impact. Functional devices that leverage this property have significant potential in various fields, including self-powered sensors, underwater communication, information security, engineering structure diagnostics, and biomedicine.

While substantial progress has been made in developing high-performance mechanoluminescent materials, challenges persist—such as weak luminescence intensity, the need for ultraviolet wavelength charging, difficulty in detecting low-strain signals, and a lack of a comprehensive theoretical understanding of mechanoluminescence. To overcome these limitations, the research team has developed a new type of broadband near-infrared mechanoluminescent film. This innovative material demonstrates clear mechanoluminescent signals even under 50 microstrains, exhibiting exceptional force-optical sensing performance. This development opens up new possibilities for the advancement of intelligent mechanical sensors.

Advanced Materials is a premier international journal in materials and physical sciences, indexed in the Nature Index. With its high impact factor, the journal consistently ranks among the top in the field. Publications in Advanced Materials represent significant breakthroughs and cutting-edge advancements. The inclusion of this research highlights the strength of HEU’s capabilities in mechanoluminescent sensing technology.

Paper link: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/adma.202505360