Issue 3, 2020

A rapid and reversible thermochromic supramolecular polymer hydrogel and its application in protected quick response codes

Abstract

A rapid and reversible thermochromic fluorescent supramolecular polymer hydrogel was prepared via orthogonal self-assembly involving host–guest interactions and metal coordination interactions. This supramolecular polymer hydrogel exhibits responsiveness to multiple stimuli induced by competitive ligands and temperature, and excellent self-healing properties after being destroyed by external forces. Furthermore, the introduction of TPE units into the supramolecular hydrogel endows it with bright blue fluorescence, satisfying the demand for protected quick response (QR) codes with improved durability and security. A three-dimensional QR code was then constructed using this blue-light-emitting fluorescent supramolecular polymer hydrogel, which could hide information under natural light at high temperature or in the presence of competitive ligands, but display it under UV light irradiation at low temperature. Therefore, the QR code information is in a protected state and can only be read under specific conditions. Moreover, due to the dynamic reversibility of non-covalent interactions, the protected QR code also shows excellent self-healing performance after being destroyed.

Graphical abstract: A rapid and reversible thermochromic supramolecular polymer hydrogel and its application in protected quick response codes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
14 Nov 2019
Accepted
06 Jan 2020
First published
08 Jan 2020

Mater. Chem. Front., 2020,4, 869-874

A rapid and reversible thermochromic supramolecular polymer hydrogel and its application in protected quick response codes

B. Li, C. Lin, C. Lu, J. Zhang, T. He, H. Qiu and S. Yin, Mater. Chem. Front., 2020, 4, 869 DOI: 10.1039/C9QM00699K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements