A dynamic assembly-induced emissive system for advanced information encryption with time-dependent security

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 4185 - 11
• Main Authors: Wang, Qian, Lin, Biyan, Chen, Meng, Zhao, Chengxi, Tian, He, Qu, Da-Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 20.07.2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 140/131; 140/58; 147/143; 639/301/1005/1008; 639/638/439/945; 639/638/541/966; Aqueous solutions; Assembly; Codes; Controllability; Data encryption; Design; Emissions; Fluorescence; Humanities and Social Sciences; Laboratories; Light; Light emission; multidisciplinary; Pyrene; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Security; Smart materials; Solid phases; Solvents; Time dependence; White light
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31978-x

The development of advanced materials for information encryption with time-dependent features is essential to meet the increasing demand on encryption security. Herein, smart materials with orthogonal and temporal encryption properties are successfully developed based on a dynamic assembly-induced multicolour supramolecular system. Multicolour fluorescence, including blue, orange and even white light emissions, is achieved by controlling the supramolecular assembly of pyrene derivatives by tailoring the solvent composition. By taking advantage of the tuneable fluorescence, dynamically controlled information encryption materials with orthogonal encryption functions, e.g., 3D codes, are successfully developed. Moreover, time-dependent information encryption materials, such as temporal multi-information displays and 4D codes, are also developed by enabling the fluorescence-controllable supramolecular system in the solid phase, showing multiple pieces of information on a time scale, and the correct information can be identified only at a specified time. This work provides an inspiring point for the design of information encryption materials with higher security requirements. The development of advanced materials for information encryption is desirable. Here, the authors report materials that enable orthogonal and temporal encryption of information via dynamic assembly-induced multicolor pyrene-based supramolecular systems.