Multidimensional Data Encoding Based on Multicolor Microencapsulated Thermoresponsive Fluorescent Phase Change Materials

Luminescent materials are emerging promising tools for digital data encoding due to their reduced cost, facile reading, robustness, and durability. For this, the use of fluorescent systems that combine multicolor emission with sensitivity to external stimuli will be highly desirable, as they can offer rewritable data encoding together with enhanced encryption security and storage density. Herein a novel strategy is pioneered to reach this goal, which exploits the temperature-responsive emission properties of the mixtures of regular fluorophores with simple organic phase change materials (PCMs) such as paraffins. By preparing a diversity of microcapsules of these mixtures comprising different dyes and PCMs, thermosensitive fluorescent pixels can be prepared in a low-cost, straightforward, and scalable manner that exhibits multicolor dynamic emission behavior. These features are capitalized to fabricate pixel arrays that perform two advanced digital encoding operations: high-security 3D information encryption, and 4D data storage.