Shape Memory-Assisted Anticounterfeiting Polymer Platforms

Abstract

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