In the continuous pursuit of advanced information security, recent study has achieved a remarkable breakthrough. A series of molecular photoswitches have been successfully designed and synthesized that can be actuated by visible light or acid stimuli. These novel photoswitches hold great promise for revolutionizing the field of information encryption.
The new molecular photoswitches, (E)-1-acetyl-2-((4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)imino)indolin-3-one and its derivatives (PIO-01/02/03/04/05), are designed using twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) and subsequent (E/Z) somerization strategies. These molecules exhibit near-infrared second aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and remarkable acid/base-driven switching capabilities. One of the key features of these luminogens is the large separation of absorption bands with the participation of trifluoroacetic acid. Protonation not only endows them with an absorption band separation of over 150 nm, but also serves as a second independent input to alter the light response. The optimized compound, PIO-01, shows great potential in various applications. It can be used for multi-color, multi-patterning display, allowing for the creation of dynamic and vivid visual information. It also enables transient information recording and erasing, which is crucial for protecting sensitive data. Moreover, PIO-01 can be applied in dual-mode encryption-decryption with a ternary code, enhancing the security of information transmission. In addition, these molecules have been evaluated for their use in molecular logic gate devices.
This research not only provides insights into the excited state dynamics and (E/Z) isomerization process of these molecules but also offers a new design strategy for utilizing molecular machines in stimuli-responsive chemistry. As information security continues to be a global concern, these novel multifunctional luminogens could play a vital role in developing more secure and efficient encryption technologies.
- Visible-Light-Driven Multifunctional Luminogens with More than 150 nm Absorption Band Separation for Dynamic Information Encryption
Shijie Zhen, Fayun Ma, Hong Chen, Lin Li, Meijing Li, Zujin Zhao, Ben Zhong Tang
Aggregate 2025
https://doi.org/10.1002/agt2.70044
