Robust, Portable, and Specific Water-Response Silk Film with Noniridescent Pattern Encryption for Information Security

Abstract

In modern days, information is a key resource for accelerating the development of society, economy, and culture. Thus, information security has always been a high priority for any country, business, and department. Herein, a simple and effective strategy for preparing an independent optical device for information security is proposed by using silk fibroin materials with a quasiamorphous inverse structure. Given the reversible hydrogen bonds between silk fibroin materials and water molecules, a multicolor high-resolution pattern with a variable color can be obtained by using a simple spray coating method. Furthermore, a reversible water stimulus–response silk film with a laminated structure that consists of hidden and patterned layers and carries quick response (QR) code information is prepared. This device effectively hides (encryption) the QR code pattern in a normal environment and quickly displays the information (decryption) in water. Simultaneously, the silk film shows good mechanical strength, excellent biocompatibility, long-term structural stability, and a unique response mechanism, which make it a suitable carrier of optical information. Thus, this new preparation strategy of an optical device has a potential application value and is an important reference in the fields of information security and functional materials.