A Versatile Tetraphenylethene Derivative Bearing Excitation Wavelength Dependent Emission, Multistate Mechanochromism, Reversible Photochromism, and Circularly Polarized Luminescence and Its Applications in Multimodal Anticounterfeiting

Abstract

Multimodal anticounterfeiting has become increasingly challenging in modern society to guarantee information security and the safety of property. In this study, a versatile cholesterol-containing tetraphenylethene derivative is shown to have multiple optical properties, including stimuli-responsive fluorescence, reversible photochromism, excitation wavelength dependent luminescence, and circularly polarized luminescence. After the application of diverse processing methods (writing, screen painting, drawing, and pyrography), we found that this molecule can serve as an anticounterfeiting toolbox to provide rich anticounterfeiting effects through the synergistical use of multiple optical properties. This work offers important insight for designing novel small organic molecules for advanced multimodal anticounterfeiting technology. The versatile TPE derivative can provide multiple anticounterfeiting effects through the combined use of four functions in accord with multiple processing methods.