Physics Colloquium - Triboluminescent Materials: Uses in Smart Sensors and Technology

Andy Hollerman

 University of Louisiana at Lafayette

There are a number of techniques currently being used for damage detection and monitoring. However, the major drawbacks of the current techniques are that they do not provide in-situ and distributed sensing. Wiedemann and Schmidt defined triboluminescence (TL) as the emission of light produced by the breaking of a material. In recent years, triboluminescent materials have been proposed for use as the active element in smart structural sensors. To sense damage, these materials would be embedded into the structure. If damage occurs to this structure, the embedded triboluminescent material would give off visible light. This light could be transferred by fiber optics or by wireless to a computer-based detection system to warn occupants in real time that a significant impact event has occurred. In addition, the triboluminescent-based sensor could allow for real-time monitoring of both the magnitude and location of damage with influence to the host structure. However, for this sensor to become reality, the triboluminescent emission must be bright so that inexpensive light detectors can be used. To date, there are only a handful of materials capable of meeting the criteria.  This presentation will provide an overview of triboluminescence and new potential applications for this class of materials.