Information Storage Based on Stimuli‐Responsive Fluorescent 3D Code Materials

TLDR

Information storage has advanced rapidly, with 3D codes emerging as a promising carrier, yet conventional 3D codes struggle to transform encoded information, limiting their applications. This review aims to summarize recent 3D code systems, explain how they enable information transformation, assess their potential applications, and propose future directions. Fluorescent materials with diverse color properties and stimuli responsiveness can be used to build 3D code systems that change patterns under specific external stimuli, allowing information transformation, and these systems are categorized by stimuli type (pH, ion, light, electricity, time, separate, multiple). The review is expected to guide the design of new information materials and advance information science and technology.

Abstract

Abstract With the booming of information technology, considerable progress has been witnessed in information storage carriers, accompanied by soaring storage capacity. 3D codes as an emerging information storage carrier has attracted wide attention. However, it is challenging for conventional 3D codes to transform their encoded information, restricting their applications. Due to their rich color characteristics and various stimuli responsiveness, fluorescent materials can be utilized to construct stimuli‐responsive 3D code systems that can exhibit pattern changes upon specific external stimuli, thereby realizing information transformation. According to the type of stimuli responsiveness, several kinds of stimuli‐responsive 3D code systems are classified and summarized, including pH responsiveness, ion responsiveness, light responsiveness, electricity responsiveness, time responsiveness, some separate stimuli responsiveness, and multiple responsiveness. This review summarizes the recent 3D code systems, elaborates on how they can realize information transformation, analyzes their potential applications, and puts forward some perspectives on further development in this field. The authors anticipate this review can provide guidelines for the design of novel information materials and promote the development of information science and technology.