Three-Dimensionally Printed, Vertical Full-Color Display Pixels for Multiplexed Anticounterfeiting

Nano Lett. 2023 Nov 8;23(21):9953-9962. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02916. Epub 2023 Oct 23.

Abstract

Information encryption strategies have become increasingly essential. Most of the fluorescent security patterns have been made with a lateral configuration of red, green, and blue subpixels, limiting the pixel density and security level. Here we report vertically stacked, luminescent heterojunction micropixels that construct high-resolution, multiplexed anticounterfeiting labels. This is enabled by meniscus-guided three-dimensional (3D) microprinting of red, green, and blue (RGB) dye-doped materials. High-precision vertical stacking of subpixel segments achieves full-color pixels without sacrificing lateral resolution, achieving a small pixel size of ∼μm and a high density of over 13,000 pixels per inch. Furthermore, a full-scale color synthesis for individual pixels is developed by modulating the lengths of the RGB subpixels. Taking advantage of these unique 3D structural designs, trichannel multiplexed anticounterfeiting Quick Response codes are successfully demonstrated. We expect that this work will advance data encryption technology while also providing a versatile manufacturing platform for diverse 3D display devices.

Keywords: 3D printing; color synthesis; information encryption; multisegmented pixels; vertical stacking.