Shape memory-assisted anticounterfeiting polymer platforms

Abstract

Conventional anticounterfeiting has gradually lost its credibility due to the improvement in sophisticated forging methods. There is a growing need to fabricate new anticounterfeiting platforms with multi-mode authentication. In next-generation shape memory-assisted anticounterfeiting polymeric materials, stimuli-induced shape changing, as a result of the shape memory effect, is utilized as one security mode, and other smart phenomena are considered another alarm modes. These systems are divided into different categories, such as shape memory and luminescent-based, shape memory and chromic-based, and shape memory and lithography-based dual-mode anticounterfeiting structures. In these systems, fluorescence emission, photochromism, and thermochromism have received increasing attention. Time is also used as other authentication mode in these systems, which are named dynamic anticounterfeiting systems. The time-dependent nature of the shape memory effect could serve as a dynamic alarm mode that can increase the effectiveness and applicability of the shape memory-assisted anticounterfeiting systems. New perspectives and ideas are proposed for future studies, which can improve the anti-forging level of the prepared materials. Using different stimuli-induced chromism, fluorescent and phosphorescent abilities, various shape memory behaviors, such as triple shape memory effect, and fibrous structures with different morphologies, such as layer-by-layer and core–shell, can significantly complicate the faking process of these systems.