Multimorphological Remoldable Silver Nanomaterials from Multimode and Multianalyte Colorimetric Sensing to Molecular Information Technology

Inspired by life's interaction networks, ongoingeffortsare to increase complexity and responsiveness of multicomponent interactionsin the system for sensing, programmable control, or information processing.Although exquisite preparation of single uniform-morphology nanomaterialshas been extremely explored, the potential value of facile and one-potpreparation of multimorphology nanomaterials has been seriously ignored.Here, multimorphological silver nanomaterials (M-AgN) prepared byone pot can form interaction networks with various analytes, whichcan be successfully realized from multimode and multianalyte colorimetricsensing to molecular information technology (logic computing and security).The interaction of M-AgN with multianalytes not only induces multisignalresponses (including color, absorbance, and wavelength shift) forsensing metal ions (Cr3+, Hg2+, and Ni2+) but also can controllably reshape its four morphologies (nanodots,nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanotriangles). By abstracting binaryrelationships between analytes and response signals, multicoding parallellogic operations (including simple logic gates and cascaded circuits)can be performed. In addition, taking advantage of natural concealmentand molecular response characteristics of M-AgN nanosystems can alsorealize molecular information encoding, encryption, and hiding. Thisresearch not only promotes the construction and application of multinanointeraction systems based on multimorphology and multicomponent nanosetbut also provides a new imagination for the integration of sensing,logic, and informatization.

Automated summary

Inspired by life's interaction networks, ongoing efforts are being made to increase the complexity and responsiveness of multicomponent interactions for sensing, control, and information processing. However, the easy and one-pot preparation of multimorphology nanomaterials has been overlooked. This study demonstrates that multimorphological silver nanomaterials (M-AgN) can form interaction networks with various analytes, enabling multimode and multianalyte colorimetric sensing and molecular information technology. The interaction of M-AgN with multianalytes not only induces multisignal responses but also allows for controllable reshaping of its four morphologies. By abstracting binary relationships between analytes and response signals, multicoding parallel logic operations can be performed, and molecular information encoding and hiding can be achieved.