Mn2+-activated dual-wavelength emitting materials toward wearable optical fibre temperature sensor

Photothermal sensing is crucial for the creation of smart wearable devices. However, the discovery of luminescent materials with suitable dual-wavelength emissions is a great challenge for the construction of stable wearable optical fibre temperature sensors. Benefiting from the Mn2+-Mn2+ superexchange interactions, a dual-wavelength (530/650 nm)-emitting material Li2ZnSiO4:Mn2+ is presented via simple increasing the Mn2+ concentration, wherein the two emission bands have different temperature-dependent emission behaviours, but exhibit quite similar excitation spectra. Density functional theory calculations, coupled with extended X-ray absorption fine structure and electron-diffraction analyses reveal the origins of the two emission bands in this material. A wearable optical temperature sensor is fabricated by incorporating Li2ZnSiO4:Mn2+ in stretchable elastomer-based optical fibres, which can provide thermal-sensitive emissions at dual- wavelengths for stable ratiometric temperature sensing with good precision and repeatability. More importantly, a wearable mask integrated with this stretchable fibre sensor is demonstrated for the detection of physiological thermal changes, showing great potential for use as a wearable health monitor. This study also provides a framework for creating transition-metal-activated luminescence materials. Dual-wavelength emission materials can provide fluorescence intensity ratio technology with self-calibration features; their fabrication however, remains a challenge. Here, authors design a dual-wavelength emitting material Li2ZnSiO4:Mn2+ and present a wearable optical fibre temperature sensor, functioning in both contact and noncontact modes.