All-protein-based rewritable and reprogrammable multifunctional optical imaging platforms via multi-strategy imprinting and multimode 3D morphing

Summary

Optical imaging devices with multiple distinct functionalities are becoming increasingly important for smart displays, high-security encryption, and multilevel anti-counterfeiting applications. However, existing systems are often challenging to reconfigure once formed and lack 3D encoding capacity. Here, we present a protein-based approach to construct rewritable and reprogrammable multifunctional optical platforms that allow 2D/3D encoding, multichannel imaging, and multimode information multiplexing by combining protein self-assembly, micro-/nanoimprinting, and 3D morphing techniques. The use of multi-strategy imprinting enables the encoding of multiple independent optical responses in one material, while the incorporation of 3D architecture offers additional spatial freedom for information integration. The protein's ability for reversible molecular rearrangement allows the rewriting of imprinted optical structures and the reconfiguration of 3D geometries, providing access to reusable adaptive optical imaging platforms. We present various demonstrator devices, including multistage encryption, multilayer anti-counterfeiting, 3D multidirectional display, and high-level 3D encryption, to illustrate the platform's versatile utility.