Facile preparation strategy of photochromic dual-mode authentication nanofibers by solution blowing spinning of cellulose nanowhiskers-supported polyacrylonitrile

Abstract

Smart nanofibers have been used to create sensing tools for various purposes, such as anticounterfeiting. However, electrospinning produces nanofibers at a low yield, high cost, and requires high voltage. The recently invested solution blowing spinning method generates nanofibers at low cost and high yield without the need for high voltage. Moreover, the efficiency of nanofibrous coatings has been enhanced and strengthened by cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs). Fluorescent photochromism is an interesting technique for the preparation of dual-mode security encoding authentication materials. Herein, novel photochromic emissive nanofibrous films composed of CNW-supported polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanocomposite incorporated with alkaline earth activated aluminate nanoparticles (AEAN) was prepared to present security authentication films with optical photo-responsiveness for anticounterfeiting applications. To create a colorless film, AEAN and CNW must be well-dispersed in the PAN-based composite. Nanofiber-coated paper sheets were analyzed by luminescence spectra to display a green emission at 527 nm. The photochromic nanofiber-coated sheets demonstrated strong reversibility under UV and daylight. The current advance can be reported as an efficient strategy to manufacture authenticated merchandise.