Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
Contribution: Investigation (lead), Writing - original draft (lead), Writing - review & editing (supporting);2. Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, 211189 Nanjing, China
Contribution: Investigation (supporting), Writing - original draft (supporting), Writing - review & editing (supporting);3. State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
Contribution: Investigation (supporting), Writing - original draft (supporting), Writing - review & editing (supporting);4. State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China;5. Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, 44242 Kent, Ohio, USA
Contribution: Investigation (supporting), Writing - original draft (supporting), Writing - review & editing (supporting);6. Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, 211189 Nanjing, China |
Abstract: | Information security has gained increasing attention in the past decade, leading to the development of advanced materials for anti-counterfeiting, encryption and instantaneous information display. However, it remains challenging to achieve high information security with simple encryption procedures and low-energy stimuli. Herein, a series of strain/temperature-responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are developed to achieve dual-modal, multi-level information encryption and real-time, rewritable transient information display. The as-prepared polydomain LCEs can change from an opaque state to a transparent state under strain or temperature stimuli, with the transition strains or temperatures highly dependent on the concentration of long-chain flexible spacers. Information encrypted by different LCE inks can be decrypted under specific strains or temperatures, leading to multi-level protection of information security. Furthermore, with the combination of the phase transition of polydomain LCEs and the photothermal effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), we achieved a repeatable transient information display by using near-infrared (NIR) light as a pen for writing. This study provides new insight into the development of advanced encryption materials with versatility and high security for broad applications. |