Tuning the Photochromism of Spiropyran in Functionalized Nanoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Dynamic Anticounterfeiting Applications

Here, we report a novel invisible ink with different decay times based on thin films with different molar ratios of spiropyran (SP)/Si, which allows the encryption of messages over time. Nanoporous silica has been found to be an excellent substrate to improve the solid photochromism of spiropyran, but the hydroxyl groups of silica have a serious effect on fade speeds. The density of silanol groups in silica has an influence on the switching behavior of spiropyran molecules, as they stabilize the amphiphilic merocyanine isomers and thus slow down the fading process from the open to the closed form. Here, we investigate the solid photochromic behavior of spiropyran by sol–gel modification of the silanol groups and explore its potential application in UV printing and dynamic anticounterfeiting. To extend its applications, spiropyran is embedded in organically modified thin films prepared by the sol–gel method. Notably, by using the different decay times of thin films with different SP/Si molar ratios, time-dependent information encryption can be realized. It provides an initial “false” code, which does not display the required information, and only after a given time will the encrypted data appear.