Interfacial Fusion Engineering Enables Scalable Single-Step Continuous Fabrication of Durable and Highly Sensitive Mechanoluminescent Fiber

Abstract

The mechanoluminescent (ML) fiber, as a unique type of self-powered material, has become an important material in fields such as visual sensing, flexible displays, and smart wearables. However, their non-continuous processability, low response sensitivity, and limited luminescence capacity severely restrict the development of existing ML fibers for smart wearable electronic textiles. Herein, for the first time, we present an interfacial fusion engineering strategy that enables single-step, large-scale continuous fabrication of micron-sized ML fibers with high sensitivity and durability via hydrogel-assisted coaxial wet spinning. The introduction of temperature-responsive hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) significantly enhanced the interfacial fusion between the core and sheath layers, endowing the fibers with high stress (5.18 MPa), large strain (150%), and excellent toughness (195.57 J/m³). Notably, the ML fiber showed an ultra-low strain threshold (3.3%) and high luminescence sensitivity (K = 318.18), maintaining > 90% of its luminescence intensity after 5000 stretch–release cycles. The ML fibers exhibit luminescence behavior superior to that of previously reported coated fibers. Theoretical calculations suggest that HPC enhances luminescence through reduced electron transition energy and accelerated carrier separation with directional transfer. Moreover, integration with conductive fibers endows the ML fiber with triboelectric sensing capabilities for human motion monitoring. By enabling continuous fabrication of highly sensitive, durable, and bright stress-luminescent fibers with triboelectric sensing, this work opens new avenues for scalable production of multifunctional smart fibers for advanced wearable electronics.

Keywords

Luminescent fiber / Wet spinning / Sodium alginate / Triboelectric sensing

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(52203125)

Innovation Capability Support Program of Shaanxi (2024ZC-KJXX-044)

Taishan Industrial Experts Program (tscx202312119)

Textile Vision Basic Research Program (J202203)

Scientific Research Program Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Education Department (23JY031)

Shaanxi Provincial Natural Science Basic Research Program (2025JC-YBQN-195)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China