Light drive reversible color switching for rewritable media and encoding

Abstract

Nowadays, photo reversible color switching systems (PCSS) are always limited by some requirements, such as good stability, low toxicity, fast light response, long cycling performance and low production cost, therefore, it is a huge challenge to develop such a system that integrates beneficial features. Herein, a new type of PCSS have been demonstrated, which integrated reducing agent of triethanolamine (TEOA), catalyst of β-FeOOH nanorods and the redox driven color conversion characteristics of redox dyes. The system has the advantages of high switching rate, high reversibility (>10 cycles), wavelength selective response, safety and less light damage, which can be widely used in rewritable paper. As-prepared rewritable paper has high contrast, high resolution, suitable printing time and good reversibility, which is in line with the environmental protection concept of green printing. Rewritable paper is a kind of self-erasable rewritable medium which is highly suitable for printing. Environmental protection film has the advantages of low cost, convenient preparation and recycling. It is expected to replace the traditional writing, printing paper, existing systems and make a big step forward to practical application. Even more surprising, it also can be applied for a data encoding and reading strategy.