Single Chromophore-Based White-Light-Emitting Hydrogel with Tunable Fluorescence and Patternability

High-Strength Anisotropic Fluorescent Hydrogel Based on Solvent Exchange for Patterning

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active fluorescent hydrogel materials have found extensive applications in soft robotics, wearable electronics, information encryption, and biomedicine. Nevertheless, it continues to be difficult to create hydrogels that are both highly luminescent and possess strong mechanical capabilities. This study introduces a combined approach of prestretching and solvent exchange to create anisotropic luminous hydrogels made of poly(methacrylic acid-methacrylamide). This method restricts the intrachain rotation of AIE molecules and adjusts the orientation of the polymer network. The increased luminescence and mechanical qualities are determined to be caused by the clustering of AIE molecules, the creation of the associated hydrophobic phase and the asymmetrical polymer network. The fluorescent hydrogels exhibit exceptional mechanical characteristics, including a high fracture stress of 5.97 MPa, an outstanding elastic modulus of 93.97 MPa, and a fracture toughness of 7.21 MJ/m3. Furthermore, the AIE fluorescent hydrogels demonstrate outstanding water retention, antiswelling capabilities, and a writing function for solvent-regulated fluorescent information. This work presents a highly efficient technique for creating anisotropic hydrogels with changeable luminescence properties, which have the potential to be used in several applications, including information encryption, flexible sensors, and soft robots.

Multilevel Stimuli-Responsive Smart "Sandwich" Label with Physical Unclonable Functions Bionic Wrinkles and Space-Selective Fluorescence Patterns

With the increasing popularity of the internet, it brings convenience to lives while also increases security risks. Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) can generate random, unclonable, and unique identifiers using their inherent physical characteristics, which have broad prospects in anti-counterfeiting. Herein, inspired by the irregular tree bark fissures and random skin wrinkles found in nature, a method for creating complex micro-wrinkles with unclonable random patterns is proposed by simply stretching hydrogels. The random texture information contained in the micro-wrinkles is digitized into binary codes using an adaptive threshold algorithm. Additionally, a novel "sandwich" label with a multilevel intelligent anti-counterfeiting system is proposed. The first-level involves photoluminescence encryption with adjustable luminescence within visible light range and modulated luminescence at different excitation wavelengths; the second-level includes strain-related mechanical encryption, and the third-level consists of highly random and unclonable micro-wrinkles. The certification difficulty increases as the anti-counterfeiting grade increases, thereby enhancing label security. Furthermore, space-selective doping of rare earth metal-organic framework (RE-MOF) fluorescent materials in hydrogels is achieved through the use of screen-printing technology. The concept of novel multilevel smart anti-counterfeiting PUF labels will further enhance current levels of counterfeiting prevention.

Synthesis and Characterization of Multiple Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescent Polymer Hydrogels Based on Terpyridine and N-Isopropylacrylamide

A series of stimuli-responsive fluorescent hydrogels were successfully synthesized via micelle radical copolymerization of hydrophilic acrylamide (AM), hydrophobic chromophore terpyridine-based monomer (TPY), and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). These hydrogels presented blue emissions (423-440 nm) under room temperature, which is caused by the π-π* transition of the conjugated structures. Once the ambient temperature was increased to 55 °C, the fluorescence color changed from blue (430 nm) to pink (575 nm) within 10 min, subsequently to yellow (535 nm), and eventually back to pink. The thermal-responsive properties are attributed to the transition of the TPY units from unimer to dimer aggregation via the intermolecular charge transfer complex at high temperatures. The hydrogels showed pH-responsive properties. The emission peak of the hydrogel exhibited a blue shift of ~54 nm from neuter conditions to acidic conditions, while a 6 nm red shift to an alkaline environment was observed. The hydrogels demonstrated an obvious change in fluorescence intensity and wavelength upon adding different metal ions, which is caused by the coordination between the terpyridine units incorporated on the backbones and the metal ions. As a consequence, the hydrogels presented a sharp quenching fluorescence interaction with Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Co2+, while it exhibited an enhanced fluorescence intensity interaction with Sn2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+. The microstructural, mechanical, and rheological properties of these luminescent hydrogels have been systematically investigated.

Bioinspired Multistimuli-Induced Synergistic Changes in Color and Shape of Hydrogel and Actuator Based on Fluorescent Microgels

Fluorescent hydrogels have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for developing biomimetic materials and artificial intelligence owing to their unique fluorescence and responsive properties. However, it is still challenging to fabricate hydrogel that exhibits synergistic changes in fluorescence color and shape in response to multistimulus via a simple method. Herein, blue- and orange-emitting fluorescent microgels (MGs) both are designed and synthesized with pH-, thermal-, and cationic-sensitivity via one-step polymerization, respectively. The two fluorescent MGs are incorporated into transparent doubly crosslinked microgel (DX MG) hydrogels with a preset ratio. The DX MG hydrogels can tune the fluorescent color accompanied by size variation via subjecting to external multistimulus. Thus, DX MG hydrogels can be exploited for multiresponsive fluorescent bilayer actuators. The actuators can undergo complex shape deformation and color changes. Inspired by natural organisms, an artificial morning glory with color and size changes are showcased in response to buffer solutions of different pH values. Besides, an intelligent skin hydrogel, imitating natural calotes versicolor, by assembling four layers of DX MG with different ratios of MGs, is tailored. This work serves as an inspiration for the design and fabrication of novel biomimetic smart materials with synergistic functions.

Multifunctional Organohydrogels for pH-Responsive Fluorescent and Electrostimulus Writing

Hydrogels have attracted widespread attention in anticounterfeiting due to their unique physical/chemical properties and designability. However, hydrogels' poor mechanical properties and sluggish response to chemical stimuli pose challenges for their wide application. A fluorescent tough organohydrogel capable of freeform writing of information is reported in this work. By incorporation of the fluorescent monomer 7-methylacryloxy-4-methylcoumarin into the polyacrylamide network in a covalently cross-linked manner while intertwining with the carboxymethyl cellulose sodium network, a fluorescent tough organohydrogel with a dual-network structure is prepared. The organohydrogel shows acid-base-mediated adjustable fluorescence through the transformation of fluorescent monomers. Ion printing and electrical stimulation design achieved free information storage and encryption. In addition, the prepared organohydrogel has good antifreezing properties and can be encrypted and decrypted at subzero temperatures. The encrypted information in the organohydrogel can be read only after UV-light irradiation. These patterned fluorescent organohydrogels should find applications in protected message displays for improved information security.

Bio-Inspired Electro-Thermal-Hygro Responsive Rewritable Systems with Temporal/Spatial Control for Environment-Interactive Information Display

Utilization of rewritable luminescent materials for secure information storage and delivery has long been envisaged to reduce the cost and environmental wastes. However, it remains challenging to realize a temporally/spatially controlled display of the written information, which is crucial for secure information encryption. Here, inspired by bioelectricity-triggered skin pattern switching in cephalopods, an ideal rewritable system consisting of conductive graphene film and carbon dots (CDs) gel with blue-to-red fluorescence-color changes via water-triggered CDs aggregation and re-dispersion is presented. Its rewritability is guaranteed by using water ink to write on the CDs-gel and employing Joule heat of graphene film to evaporate water. Due to the highly controlled electrical stimulus, temporally/spatially controlled display is achieved, enabling on-demand delivery and duration time regulation of the written information. Furthermore, new-concept environment-interactive rewritable system is obtained by integrating sensitive acoustic/optical sensors and multichannel electronic time-delay devices. This work opens unprecedented avenues of rewritable systems and expands potential uses for information encryption/delivery.

Anisotropic Bi-Layer Hydrogel Actuator with pH-Responsive Color-Changing and Photothermal-Responsive Shape-Changing Bi-Functional Synergy

Stimuli-responsive color-changing and shape-changing hydrogels are promising intelligent materials for visual detections and bio-inspired actuations, respectively. However, it is still an early stage to integrate the color-changing performance and shape-changing performance together to provide bi-functional synergistic biomimetic devices, which are difficult to design but will greatly expand further applications of intelligent hydrogels. Herein, we present an anisotropic bi-layer hydrogel by combining a pH-responsive rhodamine-B (RhB)-functionalized fluorescent hydrogel layer and a photothermal-responsive shape-changing melanin-added poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel layer with fluorescent color-changing and shape-changing bi-functional synergy. This bi-layer hydrogel can obtain fast and complex actuations under irradiation with 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) light due to both the melanin-composited PNIPAM hydrogel with high efficiency of photothermal conversion and the anisotropic structure of this bi-hydrogel. Furthermore, the RhB-functionalized fluorescent hydrogel layer can provide rapid pH-responsive fluorescent color change, which can be integrated with NIR-responsive shape change to achieve bi-functional synergy. As a result, this bi-layer hydrogel can be designed using various biomimetic devices, which can show the actuating process in the dark for real-time tracking and even mimetic starfish to synchronously change both the color and shape. This work provides a new bi-layer hydrogel biomimetic actuator with color-changing and shape-changing bi-functional synergy, which will inspire new strategies for other intelligent composite materials and high-level biomimetic devices.

Dual Lewis Acid- and Base-Responsive Terpyridine-Based Hydrogel: Programmable and Spatiotemporal Regulation of Fluorescence for Chemical-Based Information Security

A huge amount of data inundated in our daily life; there is an ever-increasing need to develop a new strategy of information encryption-decryption-erasing. Herein, a polymeric DCTpy/PAM hydrogel has been fabricated to store information via controllable Eu³⁺/Zn²⁺ ionoprinting for hierarchical and multidimensional information decryption. Eu³⁺ and Zn²⁺ have a competition and dynamic interaction toward DCTpy under NH₃ stimuli in the polymeric DCTpy/PAM hydrogel network. The Eu(III)/Zn(II)@DCTpy/PAM hydrogel exhibits light red fluorescence of Eu³⁺ due to the antenna effect. Upon the addition of NH₃, dissociation of the Eu³⁺-DCTpy complex takes place, and the Zn(II)/DCTpy/NH₃ complex is formed with both ICT (intramolecular charge-transfer) and PET (photo-induced electron-transfer) process characteristics that exhibits yellow emission color. Subsequently, HCl can quench the fluorescence of the resulting hydrogel. By integrating transparency, adhesiveness, and programmable stimuli responsiveness of the hydrogel blocks in to one system, complex, multistage, and time-controlled information storage-encryption-decryption-erasing in sequence with multidimensions is illustrated via the molecule diffusion method. This work provides a novel and representative strategy in fabricating information encryption-decryption-erasing materials with high capacity and complexity by a simple terpyridine-based hydrogel.

Methoxy substituent facilitated wide solvatofluorochromism, white light emission, polymorphism and stimuli-responsive fluorescence switching in donor-π-acceptor

Introducing methoxy substituent into triphenylamine-acetophenone based donor-π-acceptor fluorophore, 3-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (1), produced strong solvatofluorochromism including white light emission, fluorescent polymorphs and mechano-responsive fluorescence switching. The unsubstituted and methoxy substituted compounds displayed strong solvent polarity mediated tunable emission in the solution. Interestingly, 3-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (2) and 3-(4-(diphenylamino)-2-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (3) showed single molecule white light emission in DMSO and ethanol, respectively. 1-3 exhibited strong green/yellow fluorescence in the solid-state (Quantum yield (Φ_f) = 10 to 23%). 2 produced fluorescent polymorphs (green (2-G) and yellow (2-Y). Single crystal structural analysis revealed that donor and acceptor phenyl units adopted coplanar conformation in 2-G and 3 whereas twisted molecular conformation in 1 and 2-Y. Further, 2-G exhibited π…π interactions facilitated isolated dimers whereas 2-Y showed well separated molecules in the crystal lattice. Aggregation induced emission (AIE) studies showed morphological transformation induced fluorescence tuning for 2. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) from TPA to acetophenone was confirmed by computational studies. Mechanofluorochromic (MFC) studies of 1 showed only slight reduction of intensity without modulating fluorescence wavelength significantly but 2 and 3 exhibited visible emissive colour change from yellow to green and vice versa by crushing and heating. Both 2 and 3 also exhibited self-reversible fluorescence switching that was confirmed by PXRD pattern. Thus, methoxy group introduction resulted in obtaining white light emitting fluorescence molecules in the solution state and self-reversible fluorescence switching materials.

Significant Promotion of Light Absorption Ability and Formation of Triplet Organics and Reactive Oxygen Species in Atmospheric HULIS by Fe(III) Ions

Metal ions are key components in atmosphere that potentially affect the optical properties and photochemical reactivity of atmospheric humic-like substances (HULIS), while this mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that atmospheric HULIS coupled with Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Al³⁺ exhibited distinct optical properties and reactive intermediates from that of HULIS utilizing three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The HULIS components showed light absorption that increased by 56% for the HULIS-Fe³⁺ system, fluorescence blue shift, and fluorescence quenching, showing a certain dose-effect relationship. These are mainly attributed to the fact that the highly oxidative HULIS chromophores have a stronger complexing ability with Fe³⁺ ions than the other metal ions. In addition, triplet organics (promoting ratio: 53%) and reactive oxygen species (promoting ratio: 82.6%) in the HULIS-Fe³⁺ system showed obvious generation promotion. Therefore, the main assumption of the photochemical mechanisms of atmospheric HULIS in the HULIS-Fe³⁺ system is that Fe³⁺ ions can form ³HULIS*-Fe³⁺ complexation with photoexcited ³HULIS* and then transition to the ground state through energy transfer, electron transfer, or nonradiative transition, accompanied by the formation of singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals. Our results provide references for evaluating the radiative forcing and aging effect of metal ions on atmospheric aerosols.

Information-Storage Expansion Enabled by a Resilient Aggregation-Induced-Emission-Active Nanocomposite Hydrogel

Advanced materials with high performance and distinctive function are one of the main driving forces for the development of human society. The selection of appropriate materials and adequately utilizing their features to apply them in a specific area rationally are of great significance but remain challenging. Herein, an aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active nanocomposite (NC) hydrogel is developed by introducing a pH-responsive AIE luminogen (AIEgen) into a Laponite XLS/polyacrylamide-based NC hydrogel (Laponite is a trademark of the company BYK Additives Ltd.). The AIEgen can protonate to interact with the negatively charged clay through the electrostatic interaction, which results in a drastic fluorescence enhancement due to the restriction of intramolecular motion by the rigid clay to the protonated AIEgen. This behavior facilitates the input of fluorescent information with a high contrast ratio in the hydrogel by acid stimulation. Moreover, by utilizing the excellent resilience of the hydrogel, hierarchically inputting and displaying the information in the original and stretched states of the hydrogel film is realized, which achieves information-storage expansion and dual-encryption via switching between stretching and restoring the film. This work showcases fully and synergistically utilizing the superiorities of various advanced materials to achieve superior applications and should guide the future development of advanced materials in emerging areas.

Fast and Reversibly Humidity-Responsive Fluorescence Based on AIEgen Proton Transfer

The construction of humidity-responsive fluorescent materials with reversibility, specificity, and sensitivity is of great importance for the development of information encryption, fluorescence patterning, and sensors. Nevertheless, to date, the application of these materials has been limited by their slow response rate and nonspecificity. Herein, a humidity-responsive fluorescence system was designed and assembled to achieve a rapid, reversible, and specific moisture response. The system comprised tetra-(4-pyridylphenyl)ethylene (TPE-4Py) as a fluorescent proton acceptor with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as a proton donor with an efficient moisture-capturing ability. The fluorescence color and intensity rapidly changed with increasing relative humidity (RH) because of TPE-4Py protonation, and TPE-4Py deprotonation resulted in recovery of the original fluorescence color in low-humidity environments. The proton transfer between the pyridyl group in TPE-4Py and the carboxyl group in PAA was reversible and chemically stable, and the humidity-responsive fluorescence system showed a high response/recovery speed, an obvious color change, good reversibility, and an outstanding specific moisture response. Because of these advantages, diverse applications of this humidity-responsive fluorescence system in transient fluorescent patterning and the encryption of information were also developed and demonstrated.

Recent Progress in Smart Polymeric Gel-Based Information Storage for Anti-Counterfeiting

Information security protection has a tremendous impact on human life, social stability and national security, leading to the rapid development of anti-counterfeiting materials and related techniques. However, the traditional stored information on hard or dry media is often static and lacks functions, which makes it challenging to deal with increasing and powerful counterfeiting technologies. Modified intelligent polymeric gels exhibit color changes and shape morphing under external stimuli, which give them great potential for applications in information storage. This paper provides an overview of the latest progress in polymeric gel-based information storage materials in relation to counterfeiting. Following a brief introduction of anti-counterfeiting materials, the preparation methods for intelligent gels with adjustable colors (e.g., chemical colors and physical colors) and various encryption/decryption modes involving dimensions and diverse colors are outlined. Finally, the challenges and prospects for information storage and anti-counterfeiting based on smart gels are discussed.

Hybrid phenol-rhodamine dye based mechanochromic double network hydrogels with tunable stress sensitivity

Mechanochromic hydrogels, which can switch their color in response to the applied external force, have shown great potential in the stress visualization and damage indication. However, the kinds of the colors in the reported mechanochromic hydrogels are limited. It is challenging to develop the mechanochromic hydrogels with new kinds of color change. Herein, we report a kind of mechanochromic double network (DN) hydrogel based on the hybrid phenol-rhodamine (HPR) mechanophore. The hydrogels turn into orange color with an emission wavelength of around 566/574 nm in response to tensile and compressive stress. The DN hydrogels show great reversibility. The color of DN hydrogels vanishes slowly after releasing the stress. The stress sensitivity can be tailored by the crosslinking density and the mechanophore concentration of the first network. In addition, the influence of the pH on the mechanochromic properties of DN hydrogels is also studied. This study provides an insightful study in tuning the stress sensitivity in the mechanochromic hydrogel, which would be beneficial for the development of the mechanochromic materials. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Injectable Natural Polymer Hydrogels for Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a serious chronic and degenerative disease that increasingly occurs in the aged population. Its current clinical treatments are limited to symptom relief and cannot regenerate cartilage. Although a better understanding of OA pathophysiology has been facilitating the development of novel therapeutic regimen, delivery of therapeutics to target sites with minimal invasiveness, high retention, and minimal side effects remains a challenge. Biocompatible hydrogels have been recognized to be highly promising for controlled delivery and release of therapeutics and biologics for tissue repair. In this review, the current approaches and the challenges in OA treatment, and unique properties of injectable natural polymer hydrogels as delivery system to overcome the challenges are presented. The common methods for fabrication of injectable polysaccharide-based hydrogels and the effects of their composition and properties on the OA treatment are detailed. The strategies of the use of hydrogels for loading and release cargos are also covered. Finally, recent efforts on the development of injectable polysaccharide-based hydrogels for OA treatment are highlighted, and their current limitations are discussed.

Multi-level encryption of information in morphing hydrogels with patterned fluorescence

Fluorescent hydrogels have attracted tremendous attention recently in the field of information security due to the booming development of information technology. Along this line, it is highly desired to improve the security level of concealed information by the advancements of materials and encryption technologies. Here we report multi-level encryption of information in a bilayer hydrogel with shape-morphing ability and patterned fluorescence. This hydrogel is composed of a fluorescence layer containing chromophore units in the poly(acrylic acid) network and an active layer with UV-absorption agents in the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) network. The former layer exhibits tunable fluorescence tailored by UV light irradiation to induce unimer-to-dimer transformation of the chromophores, facilitating the write-in of information through photolithography. The latter layer is responsive to temperature, enabling morphing of the bilayer hydrogel. Therefore, the bilayer hydrogel encoded with patterned fluorescent patterns can deform into three-dimensional configurations at room temperature to conceal the information, which is readable only after successive procedures of shape recovery at an appropriate temperature and under UV light irradiation from the right direction. The combination of morphing materials and patterned fluorescence as a new avenue to improve the encryption level of information should merit the design of other smart materials with integrated functions for specific applications.

Swelling-Induced Information Camouflage and Optical Decryption on a Transparent Recoverable Hydrogel Surface

Information camouflage and decryption on hydrogels rely on chemical stimuli such as pH, ultraviolet light, and chemical reactions, in which the cyclability is limited. This work develops a simpler yet effective physical method that can achieve the information camouflage on hydrogels by water swelling and decrypt it under white light. The information camouflage and decryption can proceed with unlimited cycles. To successfully reach the information camouflage, the hydrogel is synthesized with the water swelling ratio in weight as high as 250, which is enabled by the strong electrostatic repulsion of cationic moieties inside the network. At such a high water-swollen state, the hydrogel is still robust and elastic, which provides a mechanical basis to maintain the stability of the camouflaged information. We write information on the hydrogel surface by laser cutting. Upon immersing the hydrogel in water, the high swelling results in huge expansion of the hydrogel, thus inducing the information camouflage. With exposure to white light, the information can be decrypted and becomes visible again. Our protocol utilizes a simple physical process to enable the camouflage and decryption of complex information, which might open an alternative pathway for the development of hydrogel materials in the application of informatics.

Nanotechnology-Assisted, Single-Chromophore-Based White-Light-Emitting Organic Materials with Bioimaging Properties

White-light-emitting (WLE) organic materials, especially small molecules comprising a single chromophoric unit, have received much attention due to their tremendous use in modern-day electronic devices and biomaterials. They can increase the efficiency and lifetime of devices compared to the currently used combination approach. Herein, we explored a small symmetric push-pull organic molecule Hexyl-TCBD with a single 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene (TCBD) chromophoric unit containing urea as a key functional group on an acceptor-donor∼donor-acceptor (A-D∼D-A) backbone for its ability to show white-light emission in solution as well as in the solid state. The luminescence was absent in the solid state due to the H-bonding- and π-stacking-driven quenching processes, while emission behavior in solution was tunable with variable CIE chromaticity index values via hydrogen (H)-bonding-governed disaggregation phenomena. Translation of WLE from the Hexyl-TCBD solution to a solid state was demonstrated by utilizing nonemissive polystyrene (80 wt % with respect to the chromophore) as the matrix to obtain WLE nanofibers (made by the electrospun technique) via segregating the molecules. The optical microscopy study validated the WLE nanofibers. The presence of multicolor photoluminescence, including white light, could be fine-tuned through various excitation wavelengths, solvent polarities, and polystyrene matrices. Furthermore, the detailed photophysical studies, including lifetime measurements, indicated that the inherent intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) bands of Hexyl-TCBD exhibit better ICT state stabilization by space charge distribution through the modulation of H-bonding between urea groups. Finally, a cytotoxicity study was performed for Hexyl-TCBD on normal and cancer cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to explore bioimaging applications in biosystems. MTT results revealed significant toxicity toward cancer cells, whereas normal cells exhibited good biocompatibility.

Shedding light on predicting and controlling emission chromaticity in multicomponent photoluminescent systems

Predictable colour tuning in multicomponent photoluminescent (PL) systems is achieved using mixtures of simultaneously emitting organic molecules. By mitigating the potential for energy transfer through the control of concentration, the resulting emission chromaticity of five dichromic PL systems is approximated as a linear combination of the emitting components and their corresponding brightness (χ i , ϕ i , and I ex,i ). Despite being limited to dilute solutions (10-6 M), colour tuning within these systems was controlled by (1) varying the composition of the components and (2) exploiting the differences in the components' excitation intensities at common wavelengths. Using this approach, white light emission (WLE) was realized using a pre-determined mixture of red, green, and blue emitting organic molecules. Based on these results, materials and devices with built-in or programmable emission colour can be achieved, including highly sought-after WLE.

Metal Cation-Responsive and Excitation-Dependent Nontraditional Multicolor Fluorescent Hydrogels for Multidimensional Information Encryption

Fluorescent polymeric hydrogels especially multicolor fluorescent polymeric hydrogels (MFPHs) have important applications in information storage, encryption, and encoding. MFPHs are generally prepared by incorporating multiple traditional fluorescent materials into hydrogels. In recent years, nontraditional luminescent polymers without any traditional π-conjugated chromophores have received increasing attention. Here, we report a novel type of nontraditional MFPHs prepared by in situ polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) in the presence of poly(itaconic acid) (PITAc). The hydrogen-bonded mechanically strong PAAm/PITAc hydrogels show strong intrinsic fluorescence, and the fluorescence emission is excitation-dependent and metal cation-responsive. More impressively, the hydrogels treated with metal cations also possess excitation-dependent fluorescence. We developed a multi-ion inkjet printing (MIIP) technique to print texts or designed patterns onto the hydrogel surface using different metal cation solutions as inks, and then variable texts or patterns appear under the irradiation of UV, violet, and blue lights. Patterns can be further changed by selective printing, erasing, or reprinting on some regions. Therefore, multidimensional information encryption is achieved. This work provides a new strategy for preparing MFPHs for wide applications.

Dual-Encryption in a Shape-Memory Hydrogel with Tunable Fluorescence and Reconfigurable Architecture

Materials capable of shape-morphing and/or fluorescence imaging have practical significances in the fields of anti-counterfeiting, information display, and information protection. However, it's challenging to realize these functions in hydrogels due to the poor mechanical properties and lack of tunable fluorescence. A tough hydrogel with good shape-memory ability and phototunable fluorescence is reported here, which affords reprogrammable shape designing and information encoding for dual-encryption. This hydrogel is prepared by incorporating donor-acceptor chromophore units into a poly(1-vinylimidazole-co-methacrylic acid) network, in which the dense intra- and interchain hydrogen bonds lead to desirable features including high stiffness, high toughness, and temperature-mediated shape-memory property. Additionally, the hydrogel shows photomediated tunable fluorescence through a unimer-to-dimer transformation of the chromophores. By combining photolithography and origami/kirigami designs, hydrogel sheets encoded with fluorescent patterns can deform into specific 3D configurations. The geometrically encrypted fluorescent information in the architected hydrogels is readable only after sequential shape recovery and UV light irradiation. As demonstrated by proof-of-concept experiments, both the fluorescent pattern and the 3D configuration are reprogrammable, facilitating repeated information protection and display. The design of tough hydrogels with rewritable fluorescent patterns and reconfigurable shapes should guide the future development of smart materials with improved security and wider applications in aqueous environments.

Reconstructable Gradient Structures and Reprogrammable 3D Deformations of Hydrogels with Coumarin Units as the Photolabile Crosslinks

Morphing hydrogels have versatile applications in soft robotics, flexible electronics, and biomedical devices. Controlling component distribution and internal stress within a hydrogel is crucial for shape-changing. However, existing gradient structures of hydrogels are usually non-reconstructable, once encoded by chemical reactions and covalent bonds. Fabricating hydrogels with distinct gradient structures is inevitable for every new configuration, resulting in poor reusability, adaptability, and sustainability that are disadvantageous for diverse applications. Herein, a hydrogel containing reversible photo-crosslinks that enable reprogramming of the gradient structures and 3D deformations into various configurations is reported. The hydrogel is prepared by micellar polymerization of hydrophobic coumarin monomer and hydrophilic acrylic acid. The presence of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride micelles increases the local concentration of coumarin units and also improves the mechanical properties of the hydrogel by forming robust polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes that serve as the physical crosslinks. High-efficiency photodimerization and photocleavage reactions of coumarins are realized under 365 and 254 nm light irradiation, respectively, affording reversible tuning of the network structure of the hydrogel. Through photolithography, different gradient structures are sequentially patterned in one hydrogel that direct the deformations into distinct configurations. Such a strategy should be applicable for other photolabile hydrogels toward reprogrammable control of network structures and versatile functions.

Recent advances in colour-tunable soft actuators

In nature, some creatures have the capability to change shapes to adapt to ever-changing environments, which greatly inspire researchers to develop soft actuators. To endow soft actuators with capabilities to interact with environment and integrate more feedbacks is of great significance. Colour-tunable soft actuators that provide colour change feedbacks have therefore attracted extensive attention. Based on either chemical-colour or structural-colour based materials, a variety of colour-tunable soft actuators enabling shape deformations (or locomotion) and colour changes have been prepared and hold promise for applications in soft robotics and biomedical devices. This review summarizes the recent advances of colour-tunable soft actuators, with emphasis on their colour-change mechanisms and highlighting their applications. Existing challenges and future perspectives on colour-tunable soft actuators are presented.

Aggregation-Induced Emission Fluorescent Gels: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

The development of fluorescent gels, if not the current focus, is at the center of recent efforts devoted to the invention of a new generation of gels. Fluorescent gels have numerous properties that are intrinsic to the gel structure, with additional light-emitting properties making them attractive for different applications. This review focuses on current studies associated with the development of fluorescent gels using aggregation-induced emission fluorophores (AIEgens) to ultimately suggest new directions for future research. Here, we discuss major drawbacks of the methodologies used frequently for the fabrication of fluorescent gels using traditional fluorophores compared to those using AIEgens. The fabrication strategies to develop AIE-based fluorescent gels, including physical mixing, soaking, self-assembly, noncovalent interactions, and permanent chemical reactions, are discussed thoroughly. New and recent findings on developing AIE-active gels are explained. Specifically, physically prepared AIE-based gels including supramolecular, ionic, and chemically prepared AIE-based gels are discussed. In addition, the intrinsic fluorescent properties of natural gels, known as clustering-triggered fluorescent gel, and new and recent relevant findings published in peer-reviewed journals are explained. This review also revealed the biomedical applications of AIE-based fluorescent hydrogels including drug delivery, biosensors, bioimaging, and tissue engineering. In conclusion, the current research situation and future directions are identified.

Aqueous Systems with Tunable Fluorescence Including White-Light Emission for Anti-Counterfeiting Fluorescent Inks and Hydrogels

White-light-emitting materials have attracted wide interest for potential applications in information displays and lighting. To date, the majority of reported white-light-emitting materials have been multicomponent systems that are typically processed with organic solvents. These features are associated with complex processing, poor white-light quality, and environmental pollution. Herein, a white-light-emitting aqueous system is realized by encapsulating a fluorophore, which has a vibration-induced emission effect, in Pluronic F127 micelles. Tunable multicolor fluorescence is achieved by changing the temperature, and the use of organic solvents is effectively avoided. Through this process, white-light emission with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.3351, 0.3326) is obtained, which is very close to pure white light, and its color rendering index is as high as 89. The fluorescence color tunability of this system could be performed in a wide temperature range, rendering it a potential material in optical thermometry. Besides, the aqueous system also allows for the application of the material as a fluorescent ink and white-light-emitting hydrogels. Information could be embedded in paper-based materials and hydrogels through the fluorescence quenching effect of iron ions (Fe³⁺) on the fluorophore. Fluorescence could then be recovered upon removal of Fe³⁺ by adenosine 5'-triphosphate. Thus, fluorescent patterning and triple-mode anti-counterfeiting could be expected due to the temperature-sensitive emission, fluorescence quenching, and recovering properties.

Stimulus-responsive luminescent hydrogels: Design and applications

Luminescent hydrogels are emerging soft materials with applications in photoelectric, biomedicine, sensors and actuators, which are fabricated via covalently conjugation of luminophors to hydrogelators or physical loading of luminescent organic/inorganic materials into hydrogel matrices. Due to the intrinsic stimulus-responsiveness for hydrogels such as thermo-, pH, ionic strength, light and redox, luminescent hydrogels could respond to external physical or chemical stimuli through varying the luminescent properties such as colors, fluorescent intensity and so on, affording diverse application potential in addition to the pristine individual hydrogels or luminescent materials. Based on the rapid development of such area, here we systematically summarize and discuss the design protocols, properties as well as the applications of stimulus-responsive luminescent hydrogels. Because of the stimuli-responsiveness, biocompatibility, injectable and controllability of luminescent hydrogels, they are widely used as functional smart materials. We illustrate the applications of luminescent hydrogels. The future developments about luminescent hydrogels are also presented.

Engineering luminescent pectin-based hydrogel for highly efficient multiple sensing

Luminescent hydrogels with sensing capabilities have attracted much interest in recent years, especially those responsive to stimuli, making such materials potential for various applications. Pectin is a high-molecular-weight carbohydrate polymer that has the ability to form hydrogel upon heating or mixing with divalent cations. However, intrinsic pectin gels are weak and lack of functionalities. In this study, lanthanide ions and silk fibroin derived carbon dots were incorporated into Pectin/PVA hydrogel (PPH) to form luminescent tough hydrogels. The luminescence of the hydrogel can be tuned by adjusting the ratio of blue emission carbon dots to Eu³⁺ ions (red emission) and Tb³⁺ ions (green emission). Such incorporation of emitters only slightly changed the mechanical properties of the tough hydrogel. Notably, the luminescent Pectin/PVA hydrogel (LPPH) showed chromic response to external stimuli, like pH and metal ions. By measuring the ratio of luminescent intensity at 473 nm and 617 nm (I₄₇₃/I₆₁₇), the pH response can be quantified in high sensitivity. In addition, the specific detection of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions using the fabricated hydrogel were demonstrated, the mechanism was also proposed. The different chromic responses to Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ endow the luminescent tough Pectin/PVA hydrogel potential for multiple sensing applications.

White-light-emitting hydrogels with self-healing properties and adjustable emission colors

White-light-emitting soft materials with self-healing properties show extensive applications in many fields. Herein, a novel self-healing hydrogel is successfully fabricated using oxidized dextran (Odex) and dithiodipropionate dihydrazide (TPH). Carbon dots (CDs), Riboflavin (Ri) and Rhodamine B (RhB) are incorporated into the gel matrix to produce white light emission through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process, thus achieving excellent Commission Internationale de L'eclairage (CIE) coordinate value of (0.30, 0.33). The emission colors can be easily tuned via changing proportions of three emitters or the excitation wavelength. When the hydrogels are coated on an ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LED), the hydrogel coating converts UV light to white light and repairs itself in 20 h while a hole is dug from it. Thanks to reversible exchanging reactions of acylhydrazone and disulfide bonds in hydrogel networks, the hydrogel coating exhibits perfect self-healing property in a wide range of pH (from 5 to 9 except for 7). The excellent emission and self-healing properties of hydrogels have great value in practical applications.

Color-tunable single-fluorophore supramolecular system with assembly-encoded emission

Regulating the fluorescent properties of organic small molecules in a controlled and dynamic manner has been a fundamental research goal. Although several strategies have been exploited, realizing multi-color molecular emission from a single fluorophore remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate an emissive system by combining pyrene fluorophore and acylhydrazone units, which can generate multi-color switchable fluorescent emissions at different assembled states. Two kinds of supramolecular tools, amphiphilic self-assembly and γ-cyclodextrin mediated host-guest recognition, are used to manipulate the intermolecular aromatic stacking distances, resulting in the tunable fluorescent emission ranging from blue to yellow, including a pure white-light emission. Moreover, an external chemical signal, amylase, is introduced to control the assembly states of the system on a time scale, generating a distinct dynamic emission system. The dynamic properties of this multi-color fluorescent system can be also enabled in a hydrogel network, exhibiting a promising potential for intelligent fluorescent materials.

Regulating fluorescent properties of small molecules in a controlled manner has been a fundamental research goal but realizing multi-color emission from a single fluorophore remains challenging. Here the authros demonstrate that combined pyrene fluorophore and acylhydrazone units show multi-color switchable fluorescent at different assembled states.

Terpyridine-functionalized chemically cross-linked polyacrylamide hydrogel for white emission and multistimuli-responsive behaviour

A highly efficient and multifunctional white-emitting hydrogel was fabricated using a facile copolymerization process by introducing a hydrophilic terpyridine-based chromophore into a polyacrylamide network.

Pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular AIE hydrogel with white light emission for ultrasensitive detection and effective separation of multianalytes

A novel pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular AIE hydrogel (PDG) with white light emission was constructed. The PDG could be used for ultrasensitive detection and effective separation of multianalytes, and as fluorescent display materials.

Multicolor luminescent supramolecular hydrogels based on cucurbit[8]uril and OPV derivative

Supramolecular hydrogels have received considerable attention because of their various fascinating applications. Herein, an alkyl chain-modified oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) (Py-OPV) derivative was synthesized. When assembled with cucurbit[7]uril, its fluorescence intensity was enhanced without any change in color. However, the molecules underwent J-type dimerization when encased in the cavity of cucurbit[8]uril, which possessed different emission properties based on the monomer. By simply changing the concentration of cucurbit[8]uril, the fluorescence properties of the assemblies were easily altered. In addition, luminescent supramolecular hydrogels were constructed with Py-OPV and cucurbit[8]uril based on the photopolymerization of acrylamide. By embedding the assembly in the polymer to confine it, hydrogels emitting various tones of blue light were easily constructed. The preparation method of such luminescent hydrogels provides a new reference method for the construction of specific luminescent materials.

Tetraphenylethylene@Graphene Oxide with Switchable Fluorescence Triggered by Mixed Solvents for the Application of Repeated Information Encryption and Decryption

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials present unique solid-state fluorescence. However, there remains a challenge in the switching of fluorescence quenching/emitting of AIE materials, limiting the application in information encryption. Herein, we report a composite of tetraphenylethylene@graphene oxide (TPE@GO) with switchable microstructure and fluorescence. We choose GO as a fluorescence quencher to control the fluorescence of TPE by controlling the aggregation structure. First, TPE coating with an average thickness of about 31 nm was deposited at the GO layer surface, which is the critical thickness at which the fluorescence can be largely quenched because of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer. After spraying a mixed solvent (good and poor solvents of TPE) on TPE@GO, a blue fluorescence of TPE was emitted during the drying process. During the treatment of mixed solvents, the planar TPE coating was dissolved in THF first and then the TPE molecules aggregated into nanoparticles (an average diameter of 65 nm) in H₂O during the volatilization of THF. We found that the fluorescence switching of the composite is closely related to the microstructural change of TPE between planar and granular structures, which can make the upper TPE molecules in and out of the effective quenching region of GO. This composite, along with the treatment method, was used as an invisible ink in repeated information encryption and decryption. Our work not only provides a simple strategy to switch the fluorescence of solid-state fluorescent materials but also demonstrates the potential for obtaining diverse material structures through compound solvent treatment.

Aggregation-Caused Quenching-Type Naphthalimide Fluorophores Grafted and Ionized in a 3D Polymeric Hydrogel Network for Highly Fluorescent and Locally Tunable Emission

Polymer hydrogels with intense yet tunable fluorescence are of great research interest due to their wide potential use in biological imaging, sensing, information storage, etc. However, the conventional fluorophores such as naphthalimide and its derivatives are usually not recommended to prepare highly fluorescent hydrogels because of their aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) nature and spontaneous tendency to undergo fluorescence self-quenching in quasi-solid-state hydrogel systems. Additionally, local regulation over fluorescent behavior of hydrogels, despite being important, still remains underdeveloped. Herein, we report highly fluorescent polymeric hydrogels based on conventional ACQ-type naphthalimide fluorophores, followed by spatial and temporal control of their fluorescent behavior. The hydrogels were prepared by one-pot radical copolymerization of naphthalimide-containing monomer and acrylamide in chitosan-acetic acid solution. Their intense emission comes from synergetic anchoring and diluting effect of the protonated naphthalimide moieties grafted on polymer chains, which result in the electrostatic repulsion among ACQ luminogens and reduced PET (photoinduced electron transfer) effect from adjacent dimethylamine groups to naphthalimide fluorophores. After being deprotonated in alkaline conditions, both PET and the ACQ effect work again to greatly quench fluorescence, endowing the hydrogels with pH-sensitive emission behavior. These properties encourage us to develop a diffusion-reaction (D-R) method to spatially and temporally control their fluorescent behavior. Based on these results, the ion-transfer-printing-assisted D-R method was further developed to fabricate many high-precision and meaningful fluorescent patterns on hydrogels. These fluorescent patterns are invisible under daylight but become vivid under specific UV light illumination, suggesting their wide potential applications in information security and transmission.

Metallohydrogel with Tunable Fluorescence, High Stretchability, Shape-Memory, and Self-Healing Properties

Aiming at the problem that the reported smart optical metallohydrogels were limited with poor mechanical properties, we reported here a novel smart optical metallohydrogel (Al-hydrogel) with excellent elongation, shape-memory ability, self-healing property, and controllable fluorescence intensity. The Al-hydrogel was obtained by the HHPMA-Al³⁺ and carboxylate-Al³⁺ coordination after one-pot micellar copolymerization of acrylic acid (AAc), acrylamide (AAm), and hydrophobic arylhydrazone-based ligand (HHPMA). This hydrogel was able to extend up to 5000% of its original length without fracture. Its emission intensity was tunable by OH^-/H⁺ or Zn²⁺/AAc and increased by 500% with 0.1 M OH^- or Zn²⁺. Its tunable fluorescence enabled us to repeatedly pattern it. A reversible system consisting of Fe³⁺/H⁺, was implemented to control the shape of the Al-hydrogel, endowing the Al-hydrogel with shape-memory ability. This highly stretchable and multifunctional Al-hydrogel has potential applications in information transmission, wearable devices, and flexible sensors.

Embedding and Positioning of Two FeII4 L4 Cages in Supramolecular Tripeptide Gels for Selective Chemical Segregation

An unreported d,l-tripeptide self-assembled into gels that embedded FeII4 L4 metal-organic cages to form materials that were characterized by TEM, EDX, Raman spectroscopy, rheometry, UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy, and circular dichroism. The cage type and concentration modulated gel viscoelasticity, and thus the diffusion rate of molecular guests through the nanostructured matrix, as gauged by 19 F and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. When two different cages were added to spatially separated gel layers, the gel-cage composite material enabled the spatial segregation of a mixture of guests that diffused into the gel. Each cage selectively encapsulated its preferred guest during diffusion. We thus present a new strategy for using nested supramolecular interactions to enable the separation of small molecules.

Supramolecular hydrogel with tunable multi-color and white-light fluorescence from sulfato-β-cyclodextrin and aminoclay

A multi-color-tunable supramolecular hydrogel is constructed from aminoclay (AC), sulfato-β-cyclodextrin (SCD), and 4-methyl-styrylpyridinium (SP), in which the SCD⊃SP complex emits monomer fluorescence, and AC provides a restricted environment for excimer emission. The emission color of the supramolecular hydrogel can be tuned from yellow → white → blue by adjusting the SCD/SP molar ratio.

Multi-stimuli responsive properties switch by intra- and inter-molecular charge transfer constructed from triphenylamine derivative

The compound TPA-BI exhibited multi-responsive fluorescence behaviors caused by inter-molecular charge transfer (CT) and intra-molecular CT formation.