Innovative triboluminescence study of multivitamin doped europium tetrakis

As the Space Shuttle program ends, NASA is developing the next generation of space vehicles. These new concept designs will require new and innovative structural health monitoring capabilities. One way to solve this problem is with smart impact sensors that use triboluminescent materials. In 2011, the authors reported an 82% increase in the triboluminescence yield of europium dibenzoylmethide triethylammonium (EuD4TEA) by changing the starting material. It has been shown that introduction of dopants tends to enhance the triboluminescent light yield. Here we report the successful synthesis of a multivitamin doped europium tetrakis which appears to be spherical in shape. Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy analysis showed the presence of 3.6% calcium, 0.62% magnesium, 0.1% iron, 0.01% copper and manganese. This new product has no shift in the triboluminescent or photoluminescent emission peaks, but only a change in the intensity. In addition, the doped EuD4TEA powder statistically emits more triboluminescence while having the same decay time. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)