phase-change photonic materials tagged posts

Optical device uses humidity to unlock hidden information and offers new option for data storage

Optical device uses humidity to unlock hidden information, offers new option for data storage
Illustration of the optical device with the bottom layer of antimony trisulfide and top layer of azido-grafted carboxymethyl cellulose. The UCSD Tritons logo appears at low humidity levels, while the UCSD library logo appears at high humidity levels. Credit: University of California – San Diego

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an optical device that reveals hidden images and changes colors in response to different levels of humidity. The technology, published in Light: Science & Applications, could lead to the development of new anti-counterfeiting labels, secure data storage, interactive displays, and environmental sensors.

The device works by displaying different images depending on moisture levels in the air...

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