Inorganic Oxide Phosphors-PDMS Composite Platforms: Recent Breakthroughs and Challenges in Multifunctional Emerging Applications

Abstract

Inorganic oxide phosphors-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite platform integrates inorganic oxide materials with a PDMS matrix, providing unique optical properties along with flexibility and humidity resistance, making it promising for applications in the forefront of advanced optoelectronics. In this respect, this review focuses on the emerging applications enabled by inorganic oxide phosphors-PDMS composite films and comprehensively summarizes the progress and challenges. At the beginning, the luminescence mechanism of inorganic phosphors, covering photoluminescence (downconversion, upconversion, and long persistent luminescence) and mechanoluminescence, as well as their recent research trends, is elaborated on the diversity of phosphor luminescence characteristics and the achievements of cutting-edge exploration. Afterward, this review further delves into the preparation methods of PDMS films, laying a technological foundation for the innovative applications of photoluminescent films in display technology, anti-counterfeiting, message encryption, and flexible optical temperature sensors, as well as the mechanoluminescent films for biomedical/biomechanical testing and stress sensing technology. Eventually, the present challenges and future prospects are discussed to advance their potential in real-world applications. This review is expected to inspire experts in the field to break through bottlenecks and expand the new frontiers of applications of inorganic oxide phosphors-PDMS composite films.

Keywords: applications; mechanoluminescence; phosphors; photoluminescence; polydimethylsiloxane film.