Smart luminescent nanoclusters with dynamic covalent bond for reversible information encryption

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photochemistry

Background:

• Luminescent nanoclusters (NCs) offer superior photophysical properties.
• Designing dynamic NCs with reversible structural changes remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize dynamic luminescent nanoclusters (NCs) with reversible structural changes.
• To investigate their photophysical properties and pH-responsive behavior.
• To explore their application in reversible information encryption.

Main Methods:

• Schiff base crosslinking between triethylenetetramine (TETA) and tannic acid at room temperature.
• Characterization of nanocluster formation, crosslinking degree, and photophysical properties.
• Investigation of pH-controlled reversible depolymerization and polymerization.

Main Results:

• Synthesized dynamic luminescent NCs with excitation-independent blue emission (λmax ≈ 458 nm).
• Demonstrated pH-controlled reversible polymerization and depolymerization, leading to cyclic "on-off-on" photoswitching.
• Successfully utilized the NCs for reversible information encryption.

Conclusions:

• The dynamic NCs exhibit reversible structural changes driven by pH-stimulated C=N bond dynamics.
• This study provides a strategy for structure-properties relationship studies in luminescent NCs.
• Offers a design concept for advanced smart optical nanomaterials.