Wavelength-Tunable Single-Mode Microlasers Based on Photoresponsive Pitch Modulation of Liquid Crystals for Information Encryption.

Fa-Feng Xu,Jiannian Yao,Yu-Wu Zhong,Yong Sheng Zhao,Zhong-Liang Gong

doi:10.34133/2020/6539431

Abstract

Information encryption and decryption have attracted particular attention; however, the applications are frequently restricted by limited coding capacity due to the indistinguishable broad photoluminescence band of conventional stimuli-responsive fluorescent materials. Here, we present a concept of confidential information encryption with photoresponsive liquid crystal (LC) lasing materials, which were used to fabricate ordered microlaser arrays through a microtemplate-assisted inkjet printing method. LC microlasers exhibit narrow-bandwidth single-mode emissions, and the wavelength of LC microlasers was reversibly modulated based on the optical isomerization of the chiral dopant in LCs. On this basis, we demonstrate phototunable information authentication on LC microlaser arrays using the wavelength of LC microlasers as primary codes. These results provide enlightenment for the implementation of microlaser-based cryptographic primitives for information encryption and anticounterfeiting applications.

Highlights

Information encryption and decryption have attracted tremendous interest for tightly protecting significant information, offering many advanced applications ranging from high-throughput data storage to secure communication [1, 2]
liquid crystal (LC) microlaser arrays were prepared by precisely depositing LC-contained ink solutions into polymeric microtemplates in regular alignment on substrates according to the predesigned digital patterns
The LC microlaser arrays were effectively fabricated via a microtemplate-assisted inkjet printing method, where single-mode lasing emissions from individual microunits were obtained

Summary

Introduction

Information encryption and decryption have attracted tremendous interest for tightly protecting significant information, offering many advanced applications ranging from high-throughput data storage to secure communication [1, 2]. The ever-increasing demands for high-level information security call for appropriate primitive systems capable of convenient information encryption and efficient data authentication. Stimuli-responsive fluorescent materials have found their successful applications as data recording and document encryption systems owing to their tactfully changed luminescent outputs in response to external stimuli [3,4,5], which prevent the secret information from being stolen, mimicked, or forged. Exploiting appropriate lasing systems as cryptographic primitives is of great significance for the implementation of high-security information encryption and decryption

Methods

Results

Conclusion