Programmable and Flexible Fluorochromic Polymer Microarrays for Information Storage

Abstract

Photoresponsive fluorochromic materials are regarded as an effective means for information storage. Their reversible changes of color and fluorescence facilitate the storage process and increase the possible storage capacity. Here, we propose an optically reconfigurable Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process to realize tunable emissions based on photochromic spiropyrans and common fluorophores. The kinetics of the photoisomerization of the spiropyran and the FRET process of the composite were systematically investigated. Through tuning the ratios of the acceptor spiropyran and donor fluorophore and external light stimuli, a programmable FRET process was developed to obtain tunable outputs. More importantly, flexible microarrays were fabricated from such fluorochromic mixtures by inkjet printing (230 ppi) and the dynamic FRET process could also be applied to generate tunable fluorescence in ready-made microstructures. The flexible patterns created using the microarrays could be used as novel optically readable media for information storage by altering the composition and optical performance of every feature within the microarray. A key aspect of information storage such is anti-counterfeiting, and these colorful displays can be fabricated and integrated in a simple and straightforward system. The reliable fabrication and programmable optical performances of these large-scale flexible polymer microarrays represent a substantial step toward high-density and high-security information storage platforms.

Light and pH dual-responsive spiropyran-based cellulose nanocrystals

“…9–12 Spiropyran-based materials have been extensively investigated and widely applied in many fields, such as bioimaging, controlled release, data storage, and sensors. 13–16…”

“…[9][10][11][12] Spiropyran-based materials have been extensively investigated and widely applied in many elds, such as bioimaging, controlled release, data storage, and sensors. [13][14][15][16] There has been great interest in developing stimulusresponsive nanoparticles ascribing to their advantages such as, good water dispersibility, excellent biocompatibility and the ability for further functionalization. 17 Spiropyran has been used to functionalize various nanomaterials, such as gold or silver nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, and carbon-based nanomaterials, to gain multifunctional materials to widen their eld of applications.…”

Writing and Erasing Encryption Information Based on Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry

“…Bradley’s group manipulated photochromic spiropyrans and fluorophores to control Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between functional photochromic units (energy acceptors) and fluorophores (energy donors). The inkjet printed two-dimensional codes displayed red emission under UV irradiation (365 nm) and green color under blue light irradiation (470 nm) . However, there are few studies on the erasable anticounterfeiting information.…”

“…The inkjet printed two-dimensional codes displayed red emission under UV irradiation (365 nm) and green color under blue light irradiation (470 nm). 16 However, there are few studies on the erasable anticounterfeiting information. This is mainly because the luminescent patterns were environmentally and chemically stable.…”

Up- and Downconversion Dual-Mode Excitation Spectral Studies of Rare Earth Doped KLaF4 Nano Emitters for Biophotonic Applications

“…Furthermore, developing a photoresponsive material capable of generating a broad spectrum of colors is a problem in materials science due to its optimization, modification, and color tunability. In such cases, multicolor-emitting materials could pave the way for a slew of applications in domains as diverse as information storage/encryption, optical sensing, imaging, and display. − The most striking feature that characterizes a luminescent material is its emission wavelength, which can be altered/tuned by changing the excitation source or doping optically active ions into the system. − The substantial advancement in lanthanide-doped nanomaterials has resulted in the development of novel platforms with sharp emission bands that determine their high color rendering behavior. − For example, multichromatic tunable upconversion (UC) emission has been demonstrated using a single excitation source of wavelength 980 nm with different power densities and/or various dopants. − However, determining the optimal concentration of each dopant and concentration quenching at elevated doping are serious setbacks for many systems. , …”