Microscopic theory of elastico-mechanoluminescent smart materials

The concepts of piezoelectric field dependence of the detrapping probability and lifetime of charge carriers in traps are developed. The charge carriers in traps become unstable after a particular piezoelectric field whereby more number of charge carriers are detrapped with increasing piezoelectric field. The detrapped electrons tunnel to the energy level of the hole-captured activator ions lying adjacent to the conduction band or tunnel to conduction band. Subsequently, luminescence is induced by the electron-hole recombination. Using these concepts microscopic theory of elastico-mechanoluminescent smart materials is explored. Present study may be useful in tailoring intense elastico-mechanoluminescent materials needed for different applications. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.