Thermo and mechanoluminescence studies of BZT phosphor

Mechanoluminescence (ML) and thermoluminescence (TL) in barium zirconium titanate (BZT) is reported for the first time. The BZT powder sample, belonging to perovskite category is synthesized using solid state reaction technique. The sample is prepared at a temperature of 1200 °C. The obtained specimen is thoroughly characterized paying particular attention to their structure, composition, morphology and optical properties. The surface morphology and structural properties are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD patterns confirm the formation of crystalline perovskite type cubic structure. Also, highly agglomerated, porous and regular shaped particles are seen by SEM. The optical properties of as prepared sample is presented and discussed in terms of ML and TL. The ML intensity is found to be maximum for the sample irradiated for 10 min. More than one maxima in TL glow curve reveals that the traps are distributed in separate groups at different depths and corresponding values are calculated using initial rise method.     

Persistent mechanoluminescence induced by elastic deformation of ZrO2:Ti phosphors

ZrO₂:Ti phosphors show such a strong mechanoluminescence (ML) that it can be seen in day light with naked eye. When a pellet of ZrO₂:Ti phosphor mixed in epoxy resin is deformed in the elastic region at a fixed strain rate using a testing machine, ML intensity increases linearly with time, and when the deformation is stopped, ML intensity decreases exponentially with time. For a given strain rate, ML intensity increases linearly with pressure, and for a given pressure, ML intensity increases linearly with the strain rate. The total ML intensity, in the deformation region, increases quadratically with pressure; however, the total ML intensity in the post-deformation region increases linearly with pressure. ML intensity decreases with successive number of pressings, whereby the reduced ML intensity can be recovered by UV-irradiation of the sample. ML intensity increases linearly with density of filled electron traps and it is optimum for a particular concentration of Ti in ZrO₂. ML intensity should change with increasing temperature of the phosphors. Although ZrO₂ is non-piezoelectric as a whole, it seems that the local structures near the Ti ions in ZrO₂ crystals are in the piezoelectric phase. The elastico ML in ZrO₂ phosphors can be understood on the basis of the localized piezoelectrification-induced detrapping model. According to this model, the localized piezoelectric field near Ti ions causes detrapping of electrons and subsequently the detrapped electrons moving in the conduction band are captured by the energy state of excited Ti⁴⁺ ions, whereby excited Ti⁴⁺ ions are produced and consequently the decay of excited Ti⁴⁺ ions gives rise to the light emission. The expressions derived on the basis of this model are able to explain satisfactorily the characteristics of ML. The relaxation time of localized piezoelectric charges and the threshold pressure for the ML emission can be determined from ML measurements. The long decay of elastico ML indicates the possibility of exploring persistent elastico ML, which may be useful for the fabrication of dim light sources capable of operating without any external power.     

Luminescence induced by elastic deformation of ZnS:Mn nanoparticles

When the thin film of ZnS:Mn nanoparticles deposited on a glass substrate is elastically deformed by applying a load, then initially the mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity increases with time, attains a peak value I_m at a particular time t_m, and later on it decreases with time. The rise and decay characteristics of the ML produced during release of the load are also similar to those produced during the application of load. Similar rise, occurrence of peak and then decrease in ML intensity are also found, when the film is deformed impulsively by dropping a steel ball of small mass from a low height; however, in this case, the time durations for the occurrence of ML and decay time of ML are very short. In the cases of loading and impulsive deformation ,after t_m, initially the ML intensity decreases at a fast rate and then at a slow rate, in which the decay time of fast decrease is equal to the time-constant for rise of pressure and the decay time for slow decrease is equal to the relaxation time of the surface charges. In the case of loading, the peak intensity I_m and the total intensity I_T of ML increase quadratically with the magnitude of applied pressure; however, in the case of impulsive deformation, both the I_m and I_T increase linearly with the height through which the ball is dropped on to the sample. In the case of deformation of the samples at a fixed strain rate, I_m should increase linearly with the applied pressure. The elastico ML in ZnS:Mn nanoparticles can be understood on the basis of the piezoelectrically-induced electron detrapping model, in which the local piezoelectric field near the Mn²⁺ centres reduces the trap-depth, and therefore, the detrapping of filled electron traps takes place, and subsequently the energy released non-radiatively during the electron-hole recombination excites the Mn²⁺ centres and de-excitation gives rise to the ML. The equal number of photons emitted during the application of pressure, release of pressure, and during the successive applications of pressure, indicates that the detrapped electron-traps get filled during the relaxation of the surface charges induced by the application and release of pressure because the charge carriers move to reduce the surface charges. On the basis of the piezoelectrically-induced electron detrapping model, expressions are derived for different characteristics of the ML of ZnS:Mn nanoparticles and a good agreement is found between the theoretical and experimental results. The expressions explored for the dependence of ML intensity on several parameters may be useful in tailoring the suitable nanomaterials capable of exhibiting ML during their elastic deformation. The values of the relaxation time of surface charges, time-constant for the rise of pressure, and the threshold pressure can be determined from the measurement of the time-dependence of ML. It seems that the trapping and detrapping of charge carriers in materials can be studied using ML.     

Mechanoluminescence induced by elastic deformation of coloured alkali halide crystals using pressure steps

During the elastic deformation of coloured alkali halide crystals, the bending segments of dislocations capture F-centre electrons lying in the expansion region of edge dislocations, to the states of dislocation band. After the separation from interacting F-centres, the captured electrons move together with the bending segments of dislocations and also drift along the axis of dislocations and subsequently the radiative electron–hole recombinations, owing to both the processes of captured-electron movement, give rise to the light emission. The generation rate of electrons in the dislocation band and the mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity initially increase with time, attain maximum value at a particular time, and then they decrease with time. The intensity I_m corresponding to the peak of ML intensity versus time curve and the total intensity I_T of ML increase with the applied pressure and also with the density of F-centres in the crystals. At low temperature, both I_m and I_T increase with temperature and at higher temperature they decrease with increasing temperature due to the thermal bleaching of F-centres and also due to the decrease in luminescence efficiency. Thus, both I_m and I_T are optimum for a particular temperature of the crystals. For longer time duration, the ML intensity decreases exponentially with time in which the decay time is equal to the lifetime of interacting F-centres. Expressions derived for the different characteristics of ML are able to explain the experimental results. It is shown that the time constant for rise of pressure, lifetime of the interacting F-centres or damping time of dislocation segments, and the activation energy can be determined from the ML measurements.     

Intense red mechanoluminescence from (ZnS)1−x(MnTe)x

Intense mechanoluminescent (ZnS)_1−x(MnTe)_x powder samples with x=0.02,0.05,0.10,0.15,0.20 and 0.25 were prepared by simple Solid State Reaction method. All samples were polycrystalline with wurtzite structure. Mechanoluminescence (ML) and Photoluminescence (PL) were observed in all the samples in the red region peaking around 650 nm. The red emission is attributed to the presence of Te along with Mn. ML is attributed to the release of holes due to the stress on the phosphors which then recombine with metastable Mn²⁺ emitting light. The intensity of ML is found to be strongly dependent on both the impact pressure and composition. The maximum intensities in both ML and PL were observed in samples with x=0.05.     

A single particle impact model for motion in avalanches

We describe the global behavior of the dynamics of a particle bouncing down an inclined staircase. For small inclinations all orbits eventually stop (independent of the initial condition). For large enough inclinations all orbits end up accelerating indefinitely (also independent of the initial conditions). There is an interval of inclinations of positive length between these two. In that interval the behavior of an orbit depends on its initial condition. In addition to stopping and accelerating orbits, there are also orbits with speeds bounded away from both zero and infinity. A second hallmark of the dynamics is that the orbits going at a finite (but non-zero) average speed tend to have close to constant speed. In the setting of this model these phenomena are robust in the sense that they are independent of the ‘ruggedness’ of the staircase and of the coefficients of restitution that govern the energy loss at each bounce.The behavior just described matches up well with physical observations of single particles falling down a rough slope as well as measurements in laboratory controlled avalanches. This (and the robustness of the results) suggests that many-particle systems (avalanches) behave in similar ways as our low-dimensional model.     

ZnS:Mn摩擦发光特性的研究

本文报道了ZnS:Mn具有良好摩擦发光性能。研究了ZnS:Mn发光中心Mn^2 及其含量以及样品的灼烧温度、灼烧时间等条件对样品发光特性的影响。优化浓度配比和制备条件制备出了较高摩抢擦发光效率的ZnS:Mn摩擦发光材料。摩擦发光机理可能是由于机械能使ZnS:Mn的电子从基态激发到激发态所致,而具有较高的摩擦发光效率可能来源于ZnS:Mn具有较宽的激发能量范围。     

Triboluminescence,a new tool to investigate fracture-initiation time of crystals under stress

The present paper reports that triboluminescence (TBL) does not appear at the instant of impact of the load but a certain time lag is required for its appearance which depends on the value of the stress applied to the crystal. Since TBL appears in sugar crystals during the creation of new surfaces, the fracture-initiation time of the crystal has been taken to be the delay time in observing TBL pulse after the application of stress. The dependence of fracture-initiation time,t _f ^σ , of crystals on the stress, σ, may be expressed ast _f ^σ =t _o exp (− ασ), wheret _o and α are constants. The values of the lattice energy, and the change in lattice energy per unit stress, of sugar crystals have been calculated from TBL measurements and they have been found to be 21·2 kcal mole⁻¹ and 0·41 × 10⁻⁸ kcal mole⁻¹ dyne⁻¹ cm² respectively.     

Chaos in semiconductor band-trap impact ionization

We introduce a new spatially-extended semiconductor carriers transport equation model, based on generation–recombination process of the band-trap impact ionization under a longitudinal electric field. By means of numerical studies, we demonstrate the existence of chaos. Also, we present many results such as, the lyapunov spectrum, the bifurcation diagram, the phase portrait and the Poincaré surface of section. In addition the basic electric circuit used is found to be helpful in the implementation of a simple and autonomous chaotic oscillator circuit. Furthermore, the obtained results are interesting in the way that they could be useful in avoiding of undesirable chaotic regime in some switching and memory electronic devices.     

The performance of resilient layers made from recycled rubber fluff for impact noise reduction

This paper reports an investigation of a new kind of material and its acoustical performance. The potential of recycled materials made from rubber fluff for reducing impact noise was assessed according to EN ISO 140-8:1997. The performance of these materials was compared to those of some commercially available underlays.     

An improved algorithm for detecting point of impact in anisotropic inhomogeneous plates

Conventional triangulation techniques fail to correctly predict the acoustic source location in anisotropic plates due to the direction dependent nature of the elastic wave speeds. To overcome this problem, Kundu et al. [1] proposed an alternative method for acoustic source prediction based on optimizing an objective function. They defined an objective function that uses the time of flight information of the acoustic waves to the passive transducers attached to the plate and the wave propagation direction (θ) from the source point to the receiving sensors. Some weaknesses of the original algorithm proposed in Ref. [1] were later overcome by developing a modified objective function [2]. A new objective function is introduced here to further simplify the optimization procedure and improve the computational efficiency. A new algorithm for source location is also introduced here to increase the source location accuracy. The performance of the objective function and source location algorithm were experimentally verified on a homogeneous anisotropic plate and a non-homogeneous anisotropic plate with a doubler patch. Results from these experiments indicate that the new objective function and source location algorithm have improved performance when compared with those discussed in Refs. [1] and [2].     

Tetrahedral manganese (II) complexes—intense and unique type of mechanoluminophores

Intense and unique type of mechanoluminescence (ML) is found in tetrahedral manganese (II) complexes. During the excitation of ML by the impact of a piston onto the crystal, the ML intensity initially increases with time, attains a maximum value and then decreases. After retardation of the piston, the decay rate of ML is faster during crystal deformation; however, its value decreases after cessation of the deformation and becomes equal to the decay rate of phosphorescence. The ML disappears below the melting point. Since the crystals of tetrahedral manganese (II) complexes are centrosymmetric, the local non-centrosymmetric sites near the defects are attributed to be responsible for the mechanoluminescence excitation.     

Photoluminescence of double-color-emitting phosphor Ca5(PO4)3Cl:Eu, Mn for near-UV LED

Eu²⁺ activated Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl blue-emitting phosphors were prepared by the conventional solid state method using CaCl₂ as the chlorine source and H₃BO₃ as flux. The structure and luminescent properties of phosphors depend on the concentrations of Eu²⁺, the amount of CaCl₂ and the usage of the H₃BO₃ flux were investigated systematically. Eu²⁺ and Mn²⁺ Co-doped Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl with blue and orange double-band emissions were also researched based on the optimal composition and synthesis conditions. The energy transfer between Eu²⁺ and Mn²⁺ was found in the phosphor Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl:Eu²⁺, Mn²⁺, and the Co-doped phosphor can be efficiently excited by near-UV light, indicating that the phoshor is a potentional candidate for n-UV LED used phosphor.     

Low frequency impact sound transmission in dwellings through homogeneous concrete floors and floating floors

An experimentally validated analytical model has been developed in order to investigate the effect on impact sound transmission at low frequencies of location of the impact, type of floor, edge conditions, floor and room dimensions, position of the receiver and room absorption. The model was developed in order to allow rapid repeated calculations necessary for a parametric survey, described in a companion paper. The analytical model uses natural mode analysis to predict the sound field generated in rectangular rooms by point sound sources and the point excitation of homogeneous rectangular plates with different edge conditions. A floor-room model of the sound field generated in a room by a vibrating floor also has been derived. Laboratory and in situ measurements confirm that the models can be used to estimate impact sound transmission at low frequencies. The approach applies to homogeneous simply supported base plates of uniform thickness with homogenous floating floors, which again were experimentally validated in the laboratory and in situ.     

Multistability of impact, utility and threshold concepts of binary choice models

The decision making problem in the context of binary choice is considered by means of impact function, utility function and threshold model approaches. The properties of generalized impact function and utility function are examined; it is shown that these two approaches are equivalent. Their relation to the threshold model is studied and the correspondence between respective cumulative distribution functions is displayed. The stationary state corresponding to the thermodynamic equilibrium is determined within mean field approximation. Multistability of the stationary state is expressed in terms of the distribution function of the random variable of impact/utility function. The correspondence with statistical physics predictions for Ising model is discussed: logistic distribution leads to the mean-field result, i.e. Curie-Weiss approximation. Variations of the distribution functions and/or other model parameters, of social character, self-support, nonlinearity of social interactions, etc., would break the direct correspondence to statistical physics of Ising model, leading in particular cases to richer structure of the multistability.     

Evaluation of frequency dependent rubber mount stiffness and damping by impact test

A simple experimental method is presented in this paper to evaluate the frequency dependent rubber mount stiffness and damping characteristics by utilizing the measured complex frequency response function from impact test and by least-squares polynomial curve fitting the data obtained from the test. The study shows the transition of the rubber mount stiffness from static to dynamic values. Using the experimentally estimated values of the rubber mount stiffness and damping, the dynamic response of the tested spring-mass system using a rubber mount as the elastic element can be accurately reproduced. In contrast, it is found that the single degree of freedom ideal spring-mass model using constant stiffness and damping values can only predict the response of the system accurately at resonance but not at non-resonance frequencies. The proposed method is validated by comparing its results with those obtained by using mechanical shaker excitations and those of conventional direct stiffness method using blocked transfer frequency response functions.     

Exact second order formalism for the study of electro-acoustic properties in piezoelectric structures under an initial mechanical stress

In this study we develop the exact second order formalism of piezoelectric structures under an external mechanical stress. Indeed, previous models are approximated since they consist in deriving all the equations in the natural coordinate system (corresponding to the pre-stress free case). Hence, our exact formalism proposes to obtain the whole of equations in the current coordinate system (which is the coordinate system after the pre-deformation). Then, this exact formalism is used to derive the modified Christoffel equations and the modified KLM model. Finally, we quantify the correction with the approximate formalism on several transfer functions and electro-mechanical parameters for a non hysteretic material (lithium niobate). In conclusion, we show that for this material, significant corrections are obtained when studying the plane wave velocities and the electrical input impedance (about 4%), whereas other parameters such as coupling coefficient and impulse response are less influenced by the choice of coordinate systems (corrections less than 0.5%).