Laser-engraved multilevel encryption enabled by FRET-based tunable multicolor polymeric afterglow materials
摘要
Developing polymer-based multicolor afterglow materials with tunable phosphorescent colors and applicability across diverse scenarios remains a significant challenge in optical anti-counterfeiting. This paper presents a novel method for preparing phosphorescent polymer anti-counterfeiting labels by coupling triplet-to-singlet Förster resonance energy transfer (TS-FRET) with ultraviolet (UV) laser direct writing technology. Using poly(acrylamide-co-4′-vinyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3,5-dicarboxylic acid) (BCA2PAM) as the donor and rhodamine 6G (R6G) as the acceptor, precise color tuning was achieved. Furthermore, time-resolved multicolor displays were realized by loading multicolor afterglow materials onto filter paper, while luminescent elastomers were synthesized through a facile integration with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Inscribing “disappear” on R6G-doped BCA2PAM films with varying laser powers resulted in exclusive visibility of “appear” under UV irradiation. Upon UV off, “disappear” emerges, followed by the reappearance of “appear” after 1 s, demonstrating encryption efficacy. High-power laser-inscribed QR codes are imperceptible under UV illumination yet become visible after simulated breath exposure and subsequent UV activation. When integrated with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) adhesive tapes, the films constitute tamper-evident labels with customizable branding features. Laser-written patterns visible under UV irradiation can be erased under ambient humidity and re-encrypted with new motifs, exhibiting rewritable capability. These results provide a new method based on ultraviolet light and multicolor time-resolved coupling in the field of optical encryption, demonstrating the industrial production potential for high-end anti-counterfeiting label applications.