A Smart Single-Fluorophore Polymer: Self-Assembly Shapechromic Multicolor Fluorescence and Erasable Ink
Ying-Yi Ren1, Bo-Yi Deng1, Zi-Hao Liao1
1Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Huazhong University of Science and Technology) of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|September 25, 2023
Summary
A new smart fluorescent polymer, polyethyleneimine-grafted pyrene (PGP), changes shape and color with stimuli. This adaptable material functions as an erasable fluorescent ink, enabling novel applications in information security.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing smart materials with tunable properties is crucial for advanced applications.
- Stimuli-responsive polymers offer dynamic control over material characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a novel smart fluorescent polymer, polyethyleneimine-grafted pyrene (PGP).
- To investigate the stimuli-responsive behavior, shape-dependent fluorescence, and erasable ink properties of PGP.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of four molecular-level stimuli-triggers: amphiphilicity, host-guest sites, pyrene fluorescence, and reversible chelation.
- Observation of PGP deformation into distinct shapes (micelles, nanosheets, branches) with characteristic fluorescence colors.
- Demonstration of PGP as an erasable and recoverable aqueous fluorescence ink using metal ion coordination and de-coordination.
Main Results:
- PGP exhibits smart deformation and shape-dependent fluorescence (cyan-green, yellow, deep-blue) in response to external stimuli.
- Quasi-reversible shape transformation between spherical micelles and rectangular nanosheets was achieved.
- Fluorescent patterns printed with PGP ink were successfully erased and recovered multiple times using Cu2+ and EDTA solutions.
Conclusions:
- PGP demonstrates multiple stimulus responsiveness, enabling dynamic shape and fluorescence changes.
- The erasable and recoverable fluorescence ink properties open possibilities for advanced information encryption and anticounterfeiting.
- PGP holds potential for applications in nanorobots, sensing, and security technologies.
