Preparation of dual mode encoding photochromic electrospun glass nanofibers for anticounterfeiting applications

Abstract

Photochromism has shown to be a promising tool for improving the authenticity of commercially available products. Additionally, improving the engineering process of authentication patterns has been crucial to offer mechanically reliable anticounterfeiting nanofibers. Herein, the electrospinning technology was applied to develop mechanically reliable and photoluminescent silicon dioxide-based electrospun glass nanofibers (80–110 nm) embedded with lanthanide-activated aluminate (LA) nanoparticles (NPs; 1–2 nm) for anticounterfeiting purposes. The produced nanocomposite films exhibited photochromism from colorless in visible spectrum to green under ultraviolet irradiation. The nanofibrous film transparency was maintained by presenting the strontium aluminate pigment as nano-scaled particles, which improves its distribution and prevents the formation of aggregates in the electrospun glass nanofibrous bulk. After being excited at 365 nm, the nanofibers made of phosphor@glass (LANPs@GLS) displayed an emission band at 519 nm. Increases in the pigment ratio enhanced the hydrophobicity of the LANPs@GLS nanofibers without altering their intrinsic characteristics. The LANPs@GLS films exhibited fast and reversible photochromism without fatigue when activated by UV light. Transparency and flexibility were shown by the nanofibrous mats. The proposed technique is reliable for making a wide range of anticounterfeiting materials.