Multi-color solid-state photoluminescence from orthogonally multi-stimuli-responsive organic molecule for advanced information storage and encryption

Abstract

The smart materials displaying strong solid-state photoluminescence and unique traceable changes in response to external stimuli, are appealing for the application in information storage and encryption. However, the vast majority of previous reports rely on a single way, i.e., reversible or irreversible stimulus response to change the fluorescent emission, limiting the level of security for information storage and encryption. In this study, benzothiazole-maleimide smart organic fluorescent molecule (BTMA) were developed that could perform multiple both reversible and irreversible stimulus responses simultaneously. In addition to the diversity, these responses were interconnected but orthogonal that can be organized in different ways, allowing information to be stored with different forms. By rational regulation of irreversible thiol-ene (TE) click reaction, reversible Diels-Alder (DA) addition reaction and the protonation/deprotonation, and combining with specific algorithms, labels or patterns prepared from BTMA and its derivatives successfully realized the concealment, reading, confirmation of authenticity and destruction of confidential information. The strategy of rational combination of irreversible and reversible stimulus responses, and efficiently utilizing the multi-component synergies provides a new idea for designing intelligent new materials for advanced information storage and encryption.