Achieving mechano-upconversion-downshifting-afterglow multimodal luminescence in a lanthanide-doped LaCaAl3O7 phosphor for multidimensional anticounterfeiting

The tunable excitation patterns and emission modes associated with luminescence materials, such as downshifting luminescence (DSL), upconversion luminescence (UCL), and mechanoluminescence (ML) play an important role in information encryption and anticounterfeiting. However, many reported luminescence materials usually show fixed excitation patterns and unimodal output, resulting in a low anticounterfeiting level. Therefore, developing luminescence materials with multitemporal, variation excitation patterns and multiple emission modes remains a considerable challenge, particularly in a single matrix. This study reports a highly integrated multifunctional material (color-tunable (DSL: amaranth→blue), tunable excitation patterns (250–380 nm) and quadrimodal (DSL, UCL, persistent luminescence (PersL), and ML)). The as-obtained versatile LaCaAl3O7:Eu2+/3+,Yb3+,Er3+ materials are suitable for obtaining elastomer films with the characteristics of water resistance, stretchability, and flexibility and synchronously offer multidimensional information encryptions and anticounterfeiting using common tools (ultraviolet light, near-infrared light, and pen). These results provide a unique insight into advanced multimodal anticounterfeiting.