A novel information storage and visual expression device based on mechanoluminescence

Abstract

Information security has aroused wide concern in this new era of information; thus, the development of security methods for storing and expressing confidential information is of great importance. Herein, we provided a novel information storage and visual expression device based on mechanoluminescent materials and poly(dimethylsiloxane) using a simple fabrication method. The device could record the region where the stress was applied and store the information and finally express it via light emission under mechanical stimuli. Furthermore, the luminescence properties of the resulting device could be tuned by adjusting the composition of the mechanoluminescent layer or the initially applied stress. More importantly, the as-fabricated device exhibited a fast and sensitive response to the stimuli along with excellent repeatability as well as long-term stability, making it reliable for promising applications in confidential information storage, anti-counterfeiting and secure communication.