Time-Dependent and Excitation-Dependent Afterglow Color Evolution from the Assembly of Dual Carbon Dots in Zeolite

Afterglow materials with time-dependent color output emerge as huge prospects in advanced optical information encryption but remain a formidable challenge due to the limited exciton transfer from a single emission center. Here, multiple time-dependent afterglow color evolutions are achieved by the strategy of controllable assembly of dual carbon dots (CDs) with an individual afterglow color and decay rate into an RHO zeolite. The strategy possesses high controllability such that B-CDs and G-CDs can be independently generated and in situ embedded into a matrix; in particular, the doped amount of two kinds of CDs can be adjusted conveniently to produce interesting variable afterglow colors. Triggered by different excitations, the prepared B&G-CDs@RHO composites exhibit the conversion of TADF and RTP behaviors, as well as time-dependent afterglow color output from deep-blue to green (365 nm excitation) and static cyan (254 nm excitation). The unique luminescence and excellent stability allow the composite applied in information encryption with high-security levels.