Effects of persistent luminescence decay on mechanoluminescence phenomena of SrAl_2O_4:Eu^2+, Dy^3+ materials

Abstract

This Letter reveals for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the effects of stress-free persistent luminescence (PL) decay on the mechanoluminescence (ML) phenomena and the effects of stresses and strain rates on the PL decay of SrAl(2)O(4):Eu(2+), Dy(3+) (SAOED) materials. Previous research on ML phenomena in this material has focused on the effects of strain rates and stress variations on ML light intensity. However, experimental evidence provided herein shows that the ML light emission is also related to the PL decay time elapsed until the onset of stressing and the PL decay rate is dependent on the stress, strain rate, and the stress-free PL decay time interval. For quantitative stress measurements using SAOED materials, understanding of ML light sensitivity and its dependence on critical factors (strain rate, stress-free PL decay time interval, photoexcitation time, instantaneous PL decay rate, etc.) is crucially important. This Letter provides new and important perspectives that are essential for developing predictive models and/or calibration procedures for ML stress sensors.