Trap-controlled mechanoluminescent (ML) materials characterized by reproducible mechanoluminescence (ML) after irradiation recharging have shown attractive prospects in applications including stress distribution visualization, stress-driven light sources, and anti-counterfeiting. However, these materials generally suffer from the difficulty of achieving non-decaying ML when subjected to continuous mechanical stimulation. Herein, we develop a trap-controlled reproducible ML material, Li2MgGeO4:Mn2+, and report its short-term non-decaying ML behavior. Investigation of trap properties suggests that the unique non-decaying ML behavior should arise from the deep traps existing in Li2MgGeO4:Mn2+, which provide electron replenishment for shallow traps that release small numbers of electrons during short-term cyclic friction. Our results are expected to provide a reference for the ultimate achievement of long-term non-decaying ML in such materials.
Keywords: mechanoluminescence; phosphors; traps.