Dynamic anticounterfeiting and tunable lasing with screen-printed cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Qu, Guangyin; Guo, Lulu; Zhang, Xiaojuan; Li, Siqi; Kuai, Yan; Fu, Weiwei; Yang, Tianyu; Wen, Jialin; Yu, Benli; Hu, Zhijia
• 署名单位: Anhui University; Peking University; Anhui University; Hefei University of Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2535645123
• 发表日期: 2026-03-24
• 页码: e2535645123
• 关键词: cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers; information anticounterfeiting; dynamic structural color; random lasing; SPIROPYRAN

摘要

Structural colors hold significant application value in anticounterfeiting, displays, and smart coatings due to their high stability, eco-friendliness, and dynamic optical response potential. However, conventional fabrication strategies for photonic crystals-such as photolithography and inkjet printing-suffer from limitations including high mask costs, nozzle clogging, lattice defects, and difficulties in scaling production. This study introduces an innovative screen-printing technique to achieve high-fidelity and multiovercoming key challenges in controlling the alignment of mesoscopic helical structures and ensuring spatial homogeneity of the photonic bandgap. Crucially, the chiral helical superstructure of CLCEs was investigated, revealing its decisive role in governing the circular polarization properties of the reflected light. The printed patterns exhibit dynamic circularly polarized reflection dictated by the handedness of the helix, and reversible mechanochromic responses under strain. Furthermore, integration of photochromic spiropyran enables multistimulus-responsive color and fluorescence switching under light and thermal stimuli, as well as ultraviolet-tunable (645 to 685 nm) random lasing strate compatibility and scalability, constitute a promising platform for next-generation anticounterfeiting labels, smart packaging, and flexible photonic devices.