3D Printing of Luminescent Glass with Controlled Distribution of Emission Colors for Multi‐Dimensional Optical Anti‐Counterfeiting

Abstract

AbstractThe fabrication of multicolor luminescent glass with simultaneous controlling of the distribution of emission colors within a monolithic medium has been a tremendous challenge, which, however, could be attractive for diverse photonic applications from optical storage to information encryption. Here, a space‐selective doping method based on a stereolithographic technique is designed, enabling the control of the doping domain of the active luminescence ions, such as Eu3+, Ce3+, Tb3+, and Pr3+, in 3D‐printed single silica glasses. The printed glass shows intense multicolor luminescence, and the interface between the two doping areas is invisible under natural light. By using this technique, multicolor luminescent glass with pre‐designed emission color distribution is fabricated, which enables facile and nondestructive decryption strategies based on photoluminescence under controlled excitation conditions. Besides, the extending of this strategy by using a femtosecond laser for photopolymerization dramatically improves the printing resolution down to the few‐micron scale, enabling the multi‐dimensional optical storage and encryption in miniaturized glass items. This work not only delineates the potential applications of multicolor luminescent glass for multi‐dimensional anti‐counterfeiting and information storage, but also opens up new avenues for prospective applications in sensing, lasers, and displays based on glasses with spatially engineered optical responses.