Chain and condensed state structure-directed fabrication of dynamic surface gratings in azopolymers for invisible patterns and multi-modal anti-counterfeiting
摘要
Dynamic surface gratings possess remarkable advantages including high flexibility, rapid reconfigurability, and tunable parameters, showing extensive potential applications in displays, imaging, sensors, and optical field manipulation. Azobenzene, featuring rapid, clean, and reversible photoisomerization properties, represents an ideal material candidate for developing dynamic surface gratings. The morphology of gratings (including regularity, periodicity, and amplitude) significantly influences their optical behavior and display performance. However, the controlled fabrication of well-ordered gratings remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate a strategy to regulate the free volume and molecular chain mobility of azopolymer systems by modulating both the side-chain and main-chain structures, which effectively controls the polymer chain architecture and condensed state structures. Combined with mask exposure technology to direct the mass migration from exposed to unexposed regions in azopolymer systems, we achieve controlled fabrication of well-ordered dynamic surface gratings. By utilizing the distinctions in grating morphology (periodicity and amplitude) and optical behavior (diffraction), we successfully fabricate vivid, colorful, and erasable dynamic surface grating patterns, as well as invisible patterns that remain invisible under ambient light but become readable under intense illumination. Furthermore, we integrate these gratings with other photoresponsive materials such as spiropyran photochromic compounds to realize multimodal optical information encryption, applicable for product shelf-life monitoring and anti-counterfeiting. This work establishes a robust strategy for the controlled fabrication of well-ordered, high-performance dynamic surface gratings and the construction of multi-modal invisible patterns.