Dual mode stimuli-responsive color-tunable transparent photoluminescent anticounterfeiting polycarbonate electrospun nanofibers embedded with lanthanide-doped aluminate

Abstract

Photochromism has been used as an attractive method to enhance the authentication of commercially available goods. It has been fundamental to enhance the engineering procedure of the authentication materials to introduce a mechanically reliable authentication nanofibrous film. In this context, we develop a mechanically reliable and photoluminescent electrospun nanofibrous polycarbonate film immobilized with lanthanide-doped aluminate nanoparticles (NPs) by the electrospinning method for authentication purposes. The prepared composite film displayed photochromism by changing color from transparent under daytime light to green under ultraviolet light. To guarantee the transparency of the electrospun nanofibrous film, the strontium aluminate pigment must be presented in the nano-scaled particle form to improve its distribution without forming aggregates in the electrospun polycarbonate nanofibrous bulk. The pigment-polycarbonate nanofibers showed an emission band at 512 nm upon excitation at 374 nm. The pigment-polycarbonate nanofibers showed an improved hydrophobicity with raising the pigment ratio without adverse influences on their inherent appearance and mechanical characteristics. When excited with UV light, the transparent films had rapid and reversible photochromism without fatigue. The nanofibrous mats displayed elasticity and flexibility. The present approach can be described as a competent method for the preparation of diverse anticounterfeiting materials.