Abstract:
Current static luminescent anticounterfeiting techniques exhibit limited security efficacy, highlighting an urgent demand for more advanced anticounterfeiting technologies. In this study, we present a persistent luminescent material, Zn2.95Ga2SnO8:Cr3+/Ho3+/Yb3+, which additionally demonstrates upconversion (UC) emission capabilities. The multifaceted emission characteristics of this material were utilized to create a high-concealment information encryption-decryption label. Our investigation indicates that the persistent luminescence (PersL) is attributable to the presence of suitably positioned traps within the phosphor matrix. Importantly, the phosphor also exhibits near-infrared (NIR) excited PersL, resulting from energy transfer processes between Ho3+ and Cr3+ ions. We successfully showcased the potential for dynamic anticounterfeiting and dual-mode information encryption-decryption by integrating this versatile material into anticounterfeiting patterns. The capacity to excite these phosphors using cost-effective UVA flashlights, combined with the visibility of their emissions to the naked eye and standard smartphone cameras, underscores their viability for large-scale applications in anticounterfeiting and secure information technologies.