Hollow SiO2 photonic crystal - graphene quantum dots composite and its application in multi-level intelligent anti-counterfeiting through regulation synergistic effect of structural color and fluorescence

The research on composite materials with rainbow color (structural color) and ultraviolet excitation characteristics (fluorescence) is the development direction of the new generation of functional photonic engineering materials. Herein, composite materials composed of hollow SiO2 photonic crystals (PCs) with nanometer thickness and PEGDA gel containing graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were prepared to achieve fluorescence regulation effect and thus apply in multi-level intelligent anti-counterfeiting. Due to the SiO2 shell thickness of 20–41 nm, the Bragg diffraction law explained that the material underwent secondary refraction, resulting in a wide photonic band gap (PBG). On the other hand, due to the comparison of refractive index between air (n = 1) and composite material (n = 1.46), the transmittance of the composite materials were only 21 %–26 %, indicating strong refractive ability. Therefore, we constructed a PC structure with a wide photonic bandgap (PBG) to provide better wavelength selectivity and coverage range, which would significantly increase the effect of structural color on fluorescence. Based on the unique quantum dot size effect of GQDs, we also investigated the fluorescence enhancement effect with 157 nm FWHM located on PC materials. Therefore, artificial design and control of both fluorescence enhancement and fluorescence suppression had been achieved through multi-level regulation of structural color. We further utilized these properties to create multi-level anti-counterfeiting verification patterns, such as a 3 × 3 digital encoding matrix. The authenticity of the product information must be verified through stepwise identification under specified conditions. This intelligent anti-counterfeiting technology offers a novel approach to safeguard information security. [Display omitted] •A series of hollow SiO2 photonic crystals were constructed, forming a wide photonic band gap (PBG).•The regulation synergistic effect of structure color and fluorescence was successfully validated.•Fluorescence could be designed and controlled through multi-level adjustment of structural color.•Anti-counterfeiting labels could realize step-by-step encryption and decryption information by mobile phones.