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Research Article

Novel strategy of multidimensional information encryption via multi-color carbon dots aggregation-induced emission

Liu Ding1,2, Xilang Jin1( ), Yuchong Gao3, Shouwang Kang2, Haiyan Bai1, Xuehao Ma1, Taotao Ai2, Hongwei Zhou1, Weixing Chen1( )
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Functional Materials and Devices Engineering Research Center of Light Stabilizers for Polymer Materials Universities of Shaanxi Province, School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, Xi’an 710021, China
School of Material Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723000, China
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA
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Graphical Abstract

Four kinds of novel multicolor CDs (M-CDs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect were successfully synthesized via an eco-friendly, low-cost one-pot solvothermal method. The multi-color emission fluorescence combined with the AIE effect make M-CDs a promising candidate for various encryption techniques, allowing for efficient and secure communication.

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) have sparked significant interest in multidimensional anti-counterfeiting due to their exceptional fluorescence properties. However, the preparation of AIE CDs with multicolor solid-state fluorescence remains a formidable challenge due to its complicated construction. In the present work, a novel class of multicolor AIE CDs (M-CDs) were fabricated using selected precursor (salicylic acid, thiosalicylic acid, and 2,2'-dithiodibenzoic acid), with an eco-friendly, low-cost one-pot solvothermal method. In the dilute organic solution, M-CDs manifested blue emission, but upon aggregation in the presence of water, the red, yellow, green, and blue emissions were displayed due to the AIE effect. Structural analysis, coupled with theoretical calculations, revealed that the increase in the size of sp2 domains would lower the Eg and cause a red-shift emission wavelength. Significantly, the continuous emission of M-CDs from blue to red can be utilized as ink for multimode printing, enabling the creation of a variety of school badges and quick response codes. These findings hold promising implications for multi-information encryption applications.

Keywords

aggregation-induced emission (AIE)luminescence mechanismmulti-color emissioninformation encryption.

Electronic Supplementary Material

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Nano Research
Volume 17 Issue 6,
June 2024
Pages 5680-5687
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-024-6519-3
Cite this article:
Ding L, Jin X, Gao Y, et al. Novel strategy of multidimensional information encryption via multi-color carbon dots aggregation-induced emission. Nano Research, 2024, 17(6): 5680-5687. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6519-3
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Received: 09 November 2023
Revised: 17 January 2024
Accepted: 28 January 2024
Published: 04 March 2024
© Tsinghua University Press 2024
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