A flexible, multifunctional, optoelectronic anticounterfeiting device from high-performance organic light-emitting paper

As a primary anticounterfeiting technology, most paper anticounterfeiting devices take advantage of photoresponsive behaviors of certain security materials or structures, thus featuring low-security threshold, which has been a critical global issue. To incorporate optoelectronic devices into existing anticounterfeiting technology suggests a feasible avenue to address this challenge. Here we report a high-performance organic light-emitting paper-based flexible anticounterfeiting (FAC) device with multiple stimuli-responsiveness, including light, electricity, and their combination. Without sacrificing the preexisted security information on the paper, we fabricate FAC device in a facile, low-cost yet high-fidelity fashion by integrating patterned electro-responsive and photo-responsive organic emitters onto paper substrates. By introducing optical microcavities, the FAC device shows considerable color shift upon different viewing angle and applied voltage, which is easily discernible by naked eyes. Notably, the FAC device is bendable, unclonable, and durable (a half-lifetime over 4000 hours at 100 cd m(-2)). Flexible optoelectronic anticounterfeiting device based on OLED paper can show different luminous states visible to the naked eye under light, electricity, and combined light and electricity stimulus.

Automated summary

This study reports a high-performance organic light-emitting paper-based flexible anticounterfeiting (FAC) device with multiple stimuli-responsiveness, including light, electricity, and their combination. By integrating patterned electro-responsive and photo-responsive organic emitters onto paper substrates, the FAC device can show considerable color shift upon different viewing angle and applied voltage, which is easily discernible by naked eyes. The FAC device is bendable, unclonable, and durable with a half-lifetime over 4000 hours at 100 cd m(-2).