Stimuli-Responsive Multicolor Nacre-Mimetic Phosphorescent Bionanocomposite Thin Films via Network-Confinement
Jiabo Shi1, Jiahao He1, Li Sheng1
1College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering and National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, No.6 Xuefu Zhonglu, Weiyang District, Xi'an, 710021, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|December 9, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed dynamic multicolor bionanocomposite thin films (BTFs) with long-lived room temperature phosphorescence (RTP). These nacre-mimetic films are stimuli-responsive, offering potential for advanced anti-counterfeiting and encryption applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Dynamic room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials are crucial for anti-counterfeiting and information encryption.
- Developing bionanocomposite thin films (BTFs) with long-lived RTP emission presents significant challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create stimuli-responsive, multicolor, nacre-mimetic phosphorescent BTFs.
- To enhance RTP efficiency and lifetime through a network-confinement strategy.
Main Methods:
- A network-confinement coupling strategy using collagen, polyvinyl alcohol, and α-zirconium phosphate nanoplatelets.
- Utilizing phosphorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for material assembly.
- Investigating stimuli-responsiveness to water and heat.
Main Results:
- Achieved nacre-like microstructure with suppressed oxygen quenching, enhancing RTP efficiency.
- Demonstrated dynamic sensitivity to water and heat, leading to reversible RTP quenching.
- Obtained an ultralong RTP lifetime of 1075.1 ms and 11.0 s afterglow.
Conclusions:
- The developed BTFs exhibit excellent stimuli-responsive and multicolor phosphorescent properties.
- The strategy offers a promising route for designing advanced functional materials.
- Applications include multimodal anti-counterfeiting and light-switchable information encryption.
