Responsive hyperbranched poly(formyl-1,2,3-triazole)s toward quadruple-modal information security protection

Secrecy has received tremendous attention in modern information society. Innovative polymer-based fluorescent materials with multiple mode emission are quite desirable to achieve multistage data security. Herein, a series of soluble and thermally stable hyperbranched poly(formyl-1,2,3-triazole)s (hb-PFTAs) with high molecular weights were facilely prepared by catalyst-free polycycloaddition of aldehyde-activated internal triyne and diazides. Functional moieties of triphenylamine and binaphthyl could be incorporated into the polymers to offer them with unique fluorescence and circular dichroism properties, respectively. By taking advantage of activated ethynyl and aldehyde groups on their peripheries and in the internal branch chains, the hb-PFTAs can undergo efficient single- and double-stage post-functionalization. More importantly, based on the remarkable fluorescence responses to hydrazine and hydrochloric acid, the hyperbranched polymers are featured with triple-mode fluorescent patterns and have been applied in quadruple-modal information encryption and storage with enhanced security and density. Collectively, this work not only enriches the structural diversity of the existing triazole-based material library, but also provides new polymeric materials for data and information security application.

Automated summary

Secrecy is crucial in modern information society. This study presents a series of soluble and thermally stable hyperbranched polymers that exhibit multiple mode emission. By utilizing post-functionalization, these polymers can be applied for multistage data security, enhancing both security and storage density.