Mechanoluminescence by Direct Laser Writing: A Seconds-Scale Fabrication Strategy

Inorganic mechanoluminescent materials, which transduce mechanical force into light, are promising for power-free sensing, structural health monitoring and human-machine interfaces. However, their fabrication typically requires energy-intensive, protracted bulk synthesis methods such as solid-state sintering. Here, we report a rapid and in-situ laser writing strategy for fabricating mechanoluminophores, validated across multiple material systems. Using the classic ZnS/CaZnOS:Mn ²⁺ system, we demonstrate that the laser-induced luminophores retain the crystal structure and emission of their sintered counterparts, while exhibiting porous microstructures, shortened fluorescence lifetime (424.9 vs. 727.3 µs) and superior mechanoluminescent linearity with stress (fitting slope of 1.11 vs. 0.54). We leverage the top-down programmability of this approach to fabricate patterned mechanoluminescent sensors and demonstrate a deep learning-driven collision management system. Our work provides a general toolbox that accelerates the trial-and-error cycle of novel mechanoluminophores and enables high-precision luminescent patterning and on-demand sensor integration.