Dual-Layer Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals Doped with Thermochromic Microcapsules for Information Encryption and Visible Light Camouflage

Abstract

The development of camouflage materials that are adapted to various environmental conditions and actively switch can greatly improve stealth reliability. However, the development of camouflage materials with stimulus-responsive structural colors in conjunction with the electro-optical properties of liquid crystal materials and the ability to actively switch their optical properties under various environmental conditions remains a major challenge. Here, a breakthrough bilayer polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) system integrated with electron-transferring organic compound microcapsules (ETOCM) was presented to achieve multimodal adaptation through synergistic electrical/thermal triggering. The hybrid materials were able to switch between different colors, transparency, and scattering states, and maintained high contrast at lower driving voltages. Among which, PDLC doped with ETOCM is used for thermally triggering the structural color shift without leaking dye; the UV intensity is controlled by a zonal polymerization process to produce a localized pattern that permits stepwise electric-field-driven decryption. In a flexible dual-layer PDLC design with a PVA separator layer, the contrast between different areas exceeds 100 and is easily visible to the naked eye. Unlike previous static or single-stimulus systems, the material can dynamically adapt to environments. By coordinating thermochromic and electro-optic mechanisms, fast multiresponse and dual encryption (thermal/electric field) are achieved. This work bridges the gap between adaptive camouflage and real-world applications, offering transformative potential for information security and wearable technology.